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Other Food Destinations in Hanoi

Xôi Đường Thành (Đường Thành’s Sticky Rice)

Xôi, sticky rice, is somewhat a familiar dish to the most of Vietnamese. Even to the foreigners, this is also not a dish that is not likely to attract their attention compared to the other because it is recommended all the time by the locals. However, you will find that nowhere has the exact kind of sticky rice as the others except for small food stalls selling on the side of the street. Thought as a simple dish, sticky rice is probably the most customized dish from those basic and fundamental ingredients in Vietnam.

In Hanoi, one place that will definitely blow your mind away with a variety of different sticky rice dishes of explosive flavor is the one-and-only Đường Thành. There on Đường Thành lies a sticky rice shop that not a single person does not know the name. Cát Lâm shop, the one that puts the once plain sticky rice dish to a whole new level.

Besides Cát Lâm, you can also find to Mrs. Thảo’s sticky rice shop. It is also a very well-known and highly recommended sticky rice shop in Đường Thành by most people. The most popular dishes at Mrs. Thảo’s are probably Crab Pie and Squid Pie Sticky Rice.

Apart from those dishes, you can also have your sticky rice of eggs and pork cooked with brine, the simple salted shredded meat sticky rice, pork pie sticky rice, pate, grilled rib, or stir-fried chicken with mushrooms sticky rice and so on. The price is very cheap, ranging from 8.000 – 20.000vnd per portion. You can choose sticky rice as your breakfast because of its convenience and nutrition which keep you all day long.

Gà Tần Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Simmered Chicken)  

Simmered chicken, until now, is still an unforgettable dish to all Hanoians. Simmered chicken has been there with all generations living in this capital. From the time when they were very little, they have been taken to simmered chicken shops by their parents to taste a wonderful dish for the first time in their lives. Simmered chicken is a very special dish. Despite most people usually have the dish in winter, some still love to eat it around the season, simply because they love it!

Simmered chicken is very sophisticatedly made with around ten different ingredients which are mostly Chinese traditional medicinal herbs. In the past, most people wanted to make simmered chicken would have to go to Chinese traditional herb shops to buy the ingredients. However, until recently, the development of the industry has made it much easier by putting all the needed ingredients in small packs and sell them in most grocery stores. Nevertheless, if everyone could make it and make it good, then simmered chicken shops as in Hàng Cót would no longer exist.
What makes it so special about gà tần Hàng Cót is probably how the ingredients are bought, carefully selected and seasoned. If you are looking for a taste that will change your view of Asian cuisine, just spend some time dropping by Hàng Cót. You can have normal simmered chicken or black simmered chicken (gà ác tần) or eat them with noodle (mì gà tần, mì gà ác tần).

Address: #12C Hàng Cót Street, Hòa Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hoa Quả Dầm Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Mixed Fruits)

Mixed fruits, what a lovely snack that most people would love to enjoy when they want treats to comfort their mouth. Mixed fruits are something very special to Asian people, especially Asian girls! In the past, people would mostly catch sight of a group of girl students after school talking and eating mixed fruits. Until now, mixed fruits are still a treat in favor of most teenagers for its sweet and sour taste with a little bit of chili that will easily get you addicted! You can choose from hundreds of flavors that you want. However mostly, people would choose mango, dracontomelum and plum flavors.

Address: Thủy Khế’s mixed fruits shop, 10 Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hoa Quả Dầm Ngọc Thạch Quán (Ngọc Thạch Quán’s Mixed Fruits)

You should also pay attention that there are two kinds of mixed fruits. The first one is the mentioned above, which is mostly in packages. The second kind is also in favor of lots of people. The fruits are altogether mixed in a bowl of cream sauce and coconut oil with different kinds of with white bubbles (trân châu trắng) as in bubble milk tea. For this kind of mixed fruits, it would be recommended that you go to Ngọc Thạch Quán in Tạ Quang Bửu Street because it is said to be one of the best shops for mixed fruits of this kind in Hanoi. The dish will be a perfect treat in summer. However, if you still want to try it in winter, just go for it!

Address: Ngọc Thạch Quán, 101 K5 Bách Khoa Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

5. Khoai Lang Xí Muội Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Salted Dry Fried Sweet Potato)

The first time you discover this treat is also the time that you fall in love with it. It may sound simple to Vietnamese but once you try it, you will probably talk to yourself like: “Oh God, what did I just eat?” because is insanely delicious. Fried Sweet Potato is like a treat that mostly fits for a cold winter in Hanoi. You will love the feeling of walking on the street, enjoying the beautiful old scenery while eating those scrumptious pieces of fried sweet potato. 

The best place for this treat you can find is in Hàng Cót Street, the Big Uncle Shop (Tiệm Chú Mập). Apart from salted dry fried sweet potato, you can also have some spicy Korean tokbokki (bánh gạo cay Hàn Quốc) or cheese mixed tokbokki. Everything is put in the paper bag if you want to take-away so it is quite convenient and eco-friendly.

Address: #12E Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hải Sản Hương Kiều (Hương Kiều’s Seafood)

Mentioning of seafood, apart from most big restaurants in the West Lake, Hương Kiều’s Seafood in Hàng Thùng is a good example of fresh and delicious seafood that you can get in the center of the capital. The restaurant also receives positive comments from the customers and rated as a must-visit seafood restaurant in Hanoi.

Address: #18 Hàng Thùng Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Cháo Sườn Tạ Quang Bửu (Tạ Quang Bửu’s rib gruel)

If you are wandering around Tạ Quang Bửu, the rib gruel shop on the street side is definitely a must-visit place if you want to have a taste of this notorious dish of Hanoi. It has been a long time since the shop for the first time sold its first bowl. There is no restaurant and no space for what we call “shop” but only plastic table sets on the street side or sometimes steps of stairs as a place to sit. Well, but people still love it. It is like being back to the past when the simplest thing can be that wonderful. For college students near that area, each afternoon will be the time for a get-together on the side street, gasping for those bowls of hot rib gruel while the stomach is craving for something to digest.

The bowl is the perfect match of each and every single ingredient in the bowl from the chewy meat of rib, the beautiful smell of fennels and the spiciness of pepper. All together create the most delicious treat of winter that you can ever imagine. Rib gruel is the best fit with some sticks of quẩy. You can either cut them in to piece or leave the whole stick. However, the first way is still recommended because it is easier to eat.

Address: #17 Tạ Quang Bửu Street, Bách Khoa Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Lutulata – Desserts and Drinks

Lutulata is a very special café shop in the center of the capital. Here in Lutulata, not only can you get the sensation of a relaxing tranquil heaven, you can also soak yourself in the sweetness of all kinds desserts and drinks such as sweeten porridge, sticky rice cake, lotus seed porridge and so on. Most people wanting to find an escape from a hard day will find to Lutulata. The café shop has a great view from the second floor to the street with the evergreen tree and an ancient pagoda. If you are finding yourself a place like this, take some time to drop by Lutulata – the land of dreams and tranquility.

Address: #39 Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

The post Top 8 Hanoi Street Foods You Shouldn’t Miss appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

If you ask the locals what the hottest news in Vietnam right now is, we would be glad to provide a list of headings! “Summit 2019: America and North Korea”, “Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are going to encounter at America-North Korea Summit in Vietnam this February” or “Why Vietnam is chosen to be the summit host?” As we and very many others who cannot take the heat, we just want to give a big announcement that the two great leaders Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are going to meet at the summit which is expected to build upon their agreement to “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”in Hanoi, Vietnam from this 27^th – 28^th February 2019.

Before the important event, many big magazines and stations have gathered around, day and night, at different governmental organizations as well as Diplomatic department to get the latest news about the following summit. As information provided on open electronic media, as soon as receiving the notice for becoming the host selected from other countries such as Thailand or Singapore, Vietnam only had about 10 days to get prepared for the official event day!

Mingling with the exciting atmosphere, not only local authorities but also Vietnamese citizens, especially Hanoians have been busy getting everything ready for the summit. Now on the streets, particularly the central ones as the Old Quarter, Huế, Hai Bà Trưng, Hoàn Kiếm or Tràng Tiền, you will see new trees being planted and colorful flower baskets hung over sign poles, light poles or even electronic poles! The city is getting alive!

Not only the streets but the people are becoming busier than ever! In a few clothing stores, white shirts printed with Vietnamese, North Korean and American flags are on display. In a few others, Áo Dài with American and North Korean flag-patterned is also garnered behind the glass windows!

A part from clothing stores, souvenir stores are also taking their chance to bring the latest products to the market from 2019 Summit key chains to caps and shirts along with Vietnamese traditional products such as calligraphy. Besides the summit’s information, what many people will probably ask is “where will Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim stop by to eat?” Well, if you still remember Bún Chả Obama then you should take this chance to discover what Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Kim’s favorite Vietnamese dish is!

So if you are ready, let us “bring the house down” with Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Vietnam this 27^th!

The post Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un: Vietnam summit approaches – All the latest updates appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Nowhere not to be found a street, which given name and resided with different kinds of people, here and there. Yet, are they merely roads with names tagged on cursorily as price tag on a product of a kind, with a view to differ it from the others by means of numbers and digits? They are and are not. Though made of solid concrete and by non-feeling machines, those are not “dead roads”, but perhaps, are brought in a living soul by specific ones who have once made their existence there.

Those streets have accompanied us in the occurrence of many historical events such as the great bombardment of Khâm Thiên, turning it from “the shady street of greenery” to a rough road of rocks and stones; the “yellow street” Phan Đình Phùng covered with the sight of hundreds of yellow leaves in Fall; or the historic Old Quarter singing along our first anthem of freedom.

Hàng Bạc (Silver Street), or more specifically, the alleyway #50 (ngo 50 Hang Bac) is also one of the kind.

As one of thirty-six streets in the Old Quarter, Hàng Bạc has been passing through centuries of ups and downs since it was still once called under the French name Rue des changeurs (the street of monetary traders).

Just until 1945 onwards, “Hàng Bạc” was given as an official Vietnamese calling for the street though the meaning compared to the French one has barely changed. Hàng Bạc was believed to have been built somewhat in the time of Lê Empire or sooner.

Basically, the street is called this way for its historic origin. Approximately in the 15th century, a mandarin whose name was Lưu Xuân Tín, a Châu Khê villager, was commanded by the court to form a foundry in the street. He then invited his family and other villagers to join and they finally came up to opening a foundry school at 58 Hàng Bạc.

Speaking of the alley #50, it is astonishingly filled with surprise when the person who creates the miracle is Scott Matt, a 24-year-old American man. The sweetest thing he has done for the alley is repainting all the flaky old walls and electricity meters, with all the paints and tools bought with his own pocket money.

The second shocking fact is that Scott studied at Drexel University majoring in business, not at all related to architecture or the like. In addition, he has never done such thing for public work before. Thanks to Scott, the alley is now filled with vivid colors bringing a new life to the alley and joy to all residents as well as the visitors. It is just the second time Scott has been here, but what can we say! Maybe Scott has fallen in love with Vietnam!

To see more photos, check the open album taken by Phuong Hoang @Maze Vietnam below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Words by Trang Nguyen
Photos in Album by Phuong Hoang

The post Someone turned the dark Alley 50 in Hang Bac st. into a trendy Instagrammble Spot! appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

This year, the city makes a wholly refreshing comeback with another annual 2-year event – Hue Festival 2018.

Disregarding the different expressions in forms of entertainment used to celebrate, the meaning of such profound event as Hue Festival 2018 is to honor the one-and-only, the rich and the delicate culture foundation of the city in particular and the whole country in general.

There is nothing much to be found in the deep down history of the Festival itself apart from what has just been told above. However, it is recorded until now by the official festival’s site that the original former of Festival Hue was known as Festival Vietnam-France, which was first held in 1992 by Hue city and Codev Viet Phap in Thua Thien Hue Province. Succeeding the unexpected success of the 1992 Viet-France Festival, the official Festival Hue was passed in October 1998 with the corporation between Thua Thien Hue and French Embassy in Vietnam. Later on, the festival was then held for the first time in 2000 under the name ‘Festival Hue’ as you may hear until now.

Been through exactly 18 years of growth, maturity and earning credit, Festival Hue 2018 still keeps and treasures perfectly the core value of what the original festival might aim at – culture and heritage. Through years and years, people have waited, have expected and have hoped for a new coming of the festival, and they have also kept in mind a question: “Will this time be different from the formers?” The answer is easy: Yes and no. From the view of the form of entertainment or closer to the shows delivered, it is easily seen that Festival Hue is upgraded and refurbished from years to years.

The only thing that stays unchanged is the message brought and delivered: The exploration of the past and the worshiping of culture. With the main theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development, Hue – one destinations, five world heritages”, the festival has succeeded in the very first stage of showing the world “who we are”, “what we do” and “what this is about”.

From 27^th April to 2^nd May 2018, the festival was held as either a national or an international event. This tenth event is the profound inheritance of what has been done and what has been successful through the last 9 seasons of the festival. Not only does Hue Festival is the combination of both old and new, it is also a meaningful playground, “the intersection” of many cultures around the world, disregard of conceptions, religious systems and the expressions of art. Not stopping there, this is of course, also the showcase of Vietnamese culture in general and Hue’s characteristics in particular to the world and by far enthuses the development of tourism and international integration of the country.

This is also a very precious event for whoever craves in exploring the deep culture of Vietnam and Hue City. In the show, you will once again experience and encounter numerous events of the past accompanied the city in its history and growth. In those, you may find the interest in the 50^th Anniversary of Mau Than Spring Rebel (1968), 230^th Anniversary of Nguyen Hue’s Enthronement at Ban Mountain (1788), 25 years from 1993 when Hue Citadel Complex was first recognized as the world’s cultural heritage by the UNESCO, and so on. The festival was held all day long for the total 7 days and was divided to many different stages, at which you might find yourself a great show to enjoy or just simply harmonized with the profound atmosphere and sensation of the city and what the festival might bring. Usually, between each show is an interval of 30 minutes to an hour. Therefore, you can make use of this spare time to wander around and enjoy the spectacular forms of heritage, both material and immaterial that you can find during the whole show in the whole week. The Festival Hue 2018 might have ended but 2020 may promise a greater and better show for you to once again sink yourself in “the intersection of culture”.

To see more photos, check the open album below:
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Night Performances

Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge 

Street performances

Words by Trang Nguyen

Photos by Dang Hoang (more photos of Hue here)

Read HUE TRAVEL GUIDE here

HUE TRAVEL GUIDE

The post Festival Hue 2018 | Public Cultural Event appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Nem Chua Rán Bà Già (The Old Lady’s Fried Fermented Pork Roll)

Staying hidden in the side of Hàng Bông Street, the Old Lady’s is easily missed by most foreigners. With a small hand-drawn sign and not at all highlighted, the Old Lady’s, at first sight, seems to scare a bit. If you are not a meticulous person to notice the sign, the only signal that will tell is an old lady or old man at the entrance of the lane will ask you something like: “Nem chua không em ơi?!!” - Do you want some fried fermented pork rolls my pal? The feeling of entering the small lane (alley) for the first time seems quite scary because it is dark even in the day light but somehow very adventurous. However, when you finally get there, you will find yourself sitting in the tiny room with plain plastic table sets but miraculously fits about 10 people. The place has another back door which opens to the side lane which is another “snack’s heaven”!

About the fried fermented pork rolls, there is nothing you have to worry about because they are absolutely delicious! If compared to Ấu Triệu’s fermented rolls - a popular spot for nem chua, this dish will definitely be better and cheaper! Besides the rolls, the Old Lady’s also offers some other dishes and drinks such as fried fries, cheese sticks, iced tea, and kumquat tea and so on.

Address: #38 Hàng Bông Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hanoi Light Bites

Chén Trứng Nướng (Nguyễn Quang Bích’s Fried Eggs)

Nguyễn Quang Bích is well known as the night street of snacks and hotpots. There is also a market that opens late at night which sells mainly fish. On the side of Nguyễn Quang Bích, you will notice a few lines of chairs and tables set on the side of the street and people are sitting there, one side for hotpot and one side for snacks. As soon as you arrive there, just look to the opposite side, you will see a few people are cooking with small stove and grates, just go there and order your food, there will be a menu for you. If you cannot read Vietnamese, you can order these suggested dishes:
The first dish that you must try is small bowls of fried eggs (Chén trứng nướng) which is the specialty of the stall. If you go in a group of two, you can order 4 bowls because they are quite small portions.

The second dish you can order is oyster grilled cheese (Hàu nướng phô mai). The taste is absolutely mouth-watering! You can order 4 of them for 2 people.
The last but not least dish, which you will definitely like, is fried bread with salty chili powder (Bánh mỳ nướng muối ớt). The name may sound “spicy” and slightly creepy but believe me, you will fall for it in no time. The bread is well fried in butter, salted shredded meat and salty chili powder. There are also small slices of sausage to eat along with the bread.

You can also order some parchyrrhizus for dessert and lemon tea for drink.
Address: #24 Nguyễn Quang Bích Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter Popular Foods

Phở Cuốn Ngũ Xã (Ngũ Xã’s Rolled Phở)

Mentioning of Ngũ Xã, no one will forget about its notorious rolled phở (phở cuốn). The one-and-only rolled phở here has made its name for a long long time. If you want to try the most genuine rolled phở in Hanoi, just pack your bag to Ngũ Xã Street, there will be millions of family restaurants for you to choose from. However, the one on the street side is still advisory since it is an old family restaurant that has been put in choice by so many customers. Again, you will have your plastic table sets and sometimes you will find that there is not so much space for you to sit properly and if you are a little bit too tall, well, this will be an obstacle! In contrast, maybe it is still acceptable because you can try the best of the best-rolled phở in Hanoi!

Usually, if you go in a group of 2, you should call a dish of 10 sticks, but if you can eat more, just go for it! There is also a very great dish that you should also order which is bloated fried phở (phở chiên phồng). Because this is served in dish so one is fair enough.

Bánh Gối Gốc Đa (Gốc Đa Fried “Pillow Pie”)

There will only be one place where you can find the finest pillow pie (bánh gối), that is the popular family restaurant Gốc Đa, located in the Old Quarter. Gốc Đa has been selling fried pillow pie for years and despite the space is limited and it looks not-quite-hygienic but you can fully put your trust in the quality of the final dish because the pies are fried in front of your face, you can see the owner frying the hundreds of pie as soon as you stand at the front of the restaurant.

Gốc Đa serves with a wide range of different dishes from pillow pie, fried pie, jiaozi (há cảo) and so on. The cover is crispy and the stuffing is absolutely appetizing and there is nowhere to be found a stuffing as tasty as Gốc Đa’s. The difference that makes the name of Gốc Đa is not only the pie but the mouthwatering sauce. And as people say: “The soul of the dish is its sauce”.

Address: #52 Lý Quốc Sư Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Bánh Tráng Nướng Hàng Tre (Hàng Tre’s Grilled Girdle Cake)

A place where Hanoi’s teenagers usually come every weekend is probably 48 Hàng Tre, where has the well-known grilled girdle cake looking like another version of pizza. The making of grilled girdle cake is very simple but there are so many flavors that you can choose from such as butter, beef jerky or mixing of all kinds. If you go to Hanoi, then Hàng Tre’s girdle cake is a dish that you must try at least once!
The restaurant is not too big but there are two floors. Most of the time, the owner will ask you to go through a small lane to the second floor because it is cleaner and there are small table sets which fit three people. The price is also very cheap and competitive so you can enjoy your dish to the fullest!

Address: #48 Hàng Tre Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Bánh Tráng Trộn Cô Toàn (Aunt Toàn’s mixing girdle cake)

It has been a long time since Hanoians, especially the teenagers usually dropped by Aunt Toàn’s girdle cake family restaurant. Until now, if being asked about the place with the best mixing girdle cake, most of the answers received will be Aunt Toàn’s. Mixing girdle has no longer been a strange dish to Hanoians for the last few years. And for a snack that you will probably want to enjoy all day, mixing girdle cake is definitely the dish. Actually, in a previous post of Luke Nguyễn, girdle cake was once recommended by him as the most tasteful dish with a surprisingly cheap price that you can get in the capital. The ingredients are so simple such as quail eggs, fennels, mints, mangoes, beef jerky, dried shrimps and chili powder can still add up to such perfect snack. Aunt Toàn’s mixing girdle cake has made its name as the best and most favorite kind of girdle cakes in Hanoi.

For that reason, there are also many ungenuine restaurants opened under the name of Aunt Toàn but of course, the taste cannot be compared. The only genuine Aunt Toàn’s girdle cake family restaurant is located at Hàng Trống Street. Aunt Toàn also opens another restaurant in Tạ Quang Bửu Street but most people still love the taste of girdle cake in Hàng Trống more.

Nộm Long Vi Dung (Long Vi Dung’s sweet and sour grated salad)

Sweet and sour grated salad or also known as “nộm” in Vietnamese is an absolutely delicious treat that you must never ever forget to try when setting foot to Hanoi. The Old Quarter is indeed a heaven for snacks in the capital. Here you will find dozens of scrumptious treats but only if you look closer, can you find the best dish! Long Vi Dung’s Nộm is an example. This nộm restaurant has been in working for such a long time. In the past, it was run by Mr. Long, who is native of China, and the ingredients, as well as the recipe, were brought by him from the country to Vietnam. Nộm at Long Vi or in general is generated from China for a long time and now it has been changed partly to fit with Vietnamese’s appetite. After Mr. Long passed away, the restaurant was passed on to his son and the flavor is still stay the same.

The dish is a harmonizing mix of papaws, carrots, fennel and different kinds of beef and jerky. Again, the soul of the dish is still the sauce, which is mixed together with all the ingredients to create the most unforgettable taste that one can find. The restaurant is relatively small but there are always so many customers so sometimes you will find yourself sitting on the side of the street with the same plastic table sets, except for the table is now replaced with a plastic chair and a metal tray. Well, but that is just the thing that creates the unique street-eating style of Hanoi! Besides nộm, you may be interested in bánh bột lọc, a kind of cake with a transparent cover made of flour and mixed stuffing of mushrooms, chopped pork and small shrimps. The place also serves fried fermented pork rolls and iced tea (trà đá), lemon tea (trà chanh) and kumquat tea (trà quất) in case you are interested.

Address: #23 Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Mỳ Vằn Thắn Đinh Liệt (Đinh Liệt Street’s Vằn Thắn Noodle)

Đinh Liệt Street in the Old Quarter is definitely another place you should drop by if you are a noodle lover. Vằn thắn noodle in Đinh Liệt has been so popular for such a long long time since the time of our parents, they have gone there hundreds of times just to have a bowl of noodle. It even used to be a dating place for former generations in our city! Having a taste of vằn thắn in the middle of the winter is somewhat an indescribable feeling.

Usually, in other vằn thắn restaurants, they will only offer normal vằn thắn bowl in which the noodle is soaked in bouillon; but at Vằn Thắn Đinh Liệt, you will find another dish known as dried or mixed vằn thắn noodle dish in which the noodle is mixed with a very special sauce. The first time tasting this dish, most people also bear the same question in mind of what ingredients is this sauce made of; but of course, it is the restaurant confidential information!

Address: #9A Đinh Liệt Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Read our full guide to Hanoi here

HANOI TRAVEL GUIDE

Covering from popular tourist hotspots to antique and hipster places for adventureous backpackers

The post Hanoi’s 10 Best-Kept Secret Street Food Spots appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

The village has been there with rain and sun, with joy and sorrow throughout centuries and empires. Conquering with the cruel devastation of time, Bát Tràng stands still and perfectly protects its precious treasure of the art of ceramics. At the first glance, Bát Tràng is completely no different from any other normal villages in Gia Lâm ward, except for having some pottery stores and workshops of all sizes and types.

Video to see Hanoi Ceramic Road:

When you go slightly deeper inside, the whole market, where some special snacks such as grilled coconut pies are served, reveals in the opposite of a big workshop. And what makes the place more worth-visiting are some fantastic famous ceramic artists’ houses.

It will be a long day to speak of the woeful and majestic history of Bát Tràng. However, it is known that the place has been existing for a long time but officially moved to Gia Lâm after Emperor Lý Thái Tổ moved the capital from Hoa Lư to Thăng Long (now as Hà Nội) in 1010. The villagers of Bồ Bát consisting the great five lineages Nguyễn, Lê, Phạm, Trần, Vương back then migrated their best artists and their families to Thăng Long and formed Bạch Thổ Phường (former name of Bát Tràng) near Red River bank, where had the best kaolin as a material.

Afterward, they started their living by making and selling potteries. Bát Tràng pottery is always amongst the finest and the most aesthetic kinds with superb quality bearing the soul and pride of once time magnanimous Asian Empire.

Map your way to the Bat Trang Village:

The road from the city to the village is reachable (from 10km – 15km) and it takes merely an hour.

Proudly saying about the place, but there are still some little reminders for whoever wants to visit the village. First of all, Bát Tràng is a ceramic village so there is nothing much can be done except for wandering around, trying to make some potteries and enjoying some snacks at the market.

Secondly, as arriving at the village, you will easily receive lots offers from the locals to drop by at their pottery workshop and they are quite consistent so you should stay calm and choose whether to do so or to go elsewhere.

Lastly, there are so many pottery workshops so it is a tough decision to make whether to choose this or that. Therefore, before having the intention of choosing one, remember to ask the owner for the process and the price for making and burning pottery. In the village, you can have some fun and spend time making pottery with your friends. It is an intriguing and hard process but you will learn after all. Most workshop owners are artists and they know how to make this well so you can count on them.

The price for sculpturing and folding one, as the last time I came here was around 40.000 Dongs with no time limit. However, if you want to burn pottery and bring it home, it will cost you another 40.000 Dongs or so. In the end, it is still about the moment so take your time and enjoy the beauty.

To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Words by Trang Nguyen
Photos by Hanh Le

More Villages in Vietnam? Read here

The post Bat Trang Ceramic Village – Home to the Pottery Familes appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Events at Tết

This year, do not forget to find yourself some great events to take part in this Lunar New Year in Hanoi. If you have not known where to go or what to do, just check out this list of two outstanding events!

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition (6th – 12th Feb 2018)

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition has become somewhat a “tradition” of people around the capital. The exhibition attracts millions of people each day going shopping to prepare for Tết. There will be a wide range of products of good quality with numerous of cultural activities for you to take part in so do not miss it!

Address: Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Palace, 91 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 9:00 – 21:00
Entrance fee: Free

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology’s Happy Lunar New Year (24th – 25th Feb 2018)

This Lunar New Year, Vietnam Musem of Ethnology will bring yo some surprise with an exciting event held at the campus. You can either participate in the event as a volunteer of the Cuisine team or just a visitor enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of spring. At the event, you will have to chance of tasting Bình Phước’s cuisine as well as other ethnics’ such as Khơ me, Xtieng and so on.

Address: Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
Opening time: 8:30 – 17:30 every day (except Monday)
Entrance fee: 40.000vnd (College students: 15.000vnd/ Highschool students: 10.000vnd)

Flower Festivals

One of the most exciting events at Tết in Hanoi is probably the flower festival. Every year, around the capital at this time of the year, most of the places will hold such events. It is like a special imprint of Hanoi that will definitely take your breath away.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a popular place for a weekend hang out, especially at Tết. Annually, there will be big flower festival around the lake at Lunar New Year. There is also Tết Flower Market in Hàng Lược Street if you want to enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms or buy some to bring to your hometown.Tết in Hanoi always bring home to mind, especially to Hanoians, this is the time when they can truly return to their childhood. Hoàn Kiếm Lake’s Flower Festival will not be a bad choice if you want to find the breath of Tết around the capital.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: Every Friday to Sunday

Ecopark

Lying on the South-Eastern side of the capital, not only is Ecopark a worth-living city but it is also an amazing place for relaxation with evergreen gardens and beautiful manmade nature. Owning the 500-hectare yard, Ecopark will definitely be the perfect place for this spring’s flower festival.

Address: Rừng Cọ Street, Long Biên – Xuân Quan, Bát Tràng, Văn Giang, Hanoi

Times City

This year, Times City is predicted to hold another flower festival as the last year. Right now in Times City, hundreds of lanterns have been hung. From the bridge to the Times Mall, an arch tunnel has been made and decorated with flickering lights and two lines of beautiful cherry blossoms. You can come to the city at any time to enjoy this beauty.

Address: #458 Minh Khai Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Holiday Resorts near Hanoi

Tết is a holiday time for Vietnamese people. If at Christmas, most foreigners want to spend their time with their family, Vietnamese would like to make a getaway in nearby resorts with their family or even alone.

Đại Lải Resort

Only takes an hour or so to get to the resort, Đại Lải is a really perfect place for such short family vacations. If you want to go a little bit expensive, you can book a room in the well-known Flamingo in Đại Lải Resort. Flamingo has even nominated as one of the most beautiful resorts on the planet by Designboom.

Address: Ngọc Thanh, Phúc Yên, Vĩnh Phúc Province

Ba Vì

Besides Đại Lải, you can also enjoy a day-out at Ba Vì or Ba Vì National Garden. The place is popular for is a wilderness of various kinds of flora and fauna. Going to Ba Vì, you can also go to other wonderful destinations such as Thiên Sơn Suối Ngà, Khoang Xanh – Suối Tiên, Ao Vua (The King’s Pond), Ba Vì’s traditional trade village and so on.

Tam Đảo

Tam Đảo is a great destination for vacations near Hanoi. Only takes you about 2 hours by car, Tam Đảo is definitely an ideal location for family outing. Going to Tam Đảo, you can take a look at these destinations: Tam Đảo’s stone church, Silver waterfall, Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhist Temple and so on.

Temples and Pagodas

In Lunar New Year, it is more like a ritual than a tradition that Asian in general and Vietnamese in particular go to the pagodas or mostly temples at Tết. This comes from the belief that human and/or Gods and Buddha are connected through the sacred places such as the churches or temples. It is also added that people believe that by going to the temples and having ceremonial offerings will help them to have a safer and happier new year. In addition, it also helps to keep you away from bad spirits.

Temple of Literature

Since this is the most well-known place in Hanoi, there is nothing much left to say here. If you want to wish for a happy new year for you and for your kid’s studying career, go to Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature)

Address: #58 Quốc Tử Giảm Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi

Hương Pagoda

This is the most-come location at Tết of all Vietnamese, especially Hanoians. In Lunar New Year, people will flock like birds from everywhere just to get the chance of having offerings in Hương Pagoda. This is not because there is any mystery or supernatural things about the place, but it is more like a habit of most Hanoians whenever Tết comes.

Address: Hương Sơn Commune, Mỹ Đức suburban district, Hanoi

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc is a pagoda lying near the capital center. There used to be a poem about the beauty of it which is now still remembered by many generations from young to old. Trần Quốc is located on an island to the South of West Lake and was one of the most renowned wonders under Lê Dynasty. Trấn Quốc is very popular for its sacredness and used to be the place that the King came at every Lunar New Year.

Address: Thanh Niên Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Ngọc Sơn is probably the most-mentioned destination along with Hoàn Kiếm Lake – a symbol of Hanoi. Ngọc Sơn used to be the locations where the martyrs of Hà Bắc came to ask for being praised in the studying ladder.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hà Pagoda

Hà Pagoda is the most popular place for love offerings. If you are having trouble finding the other half, just go to Hà Pagoda, you will have one in no time! Well, at least that is what they say. However, you should also be careful that if you have already had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, do not dare to go to this place or you will regret it!

Address: Dịch Vọng Ward, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi

The post Things to Do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

1. “The Quintessence of Tonkin” Show (every evening except Tuesday)

Address: Baara Land Entertainment Complex, Đa Phúc Village, Sài Sơn Commune, Quốc Oai District, Hanoi
Time: 19:30 – 21:30
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/01/cultural-spectacle-quintessence-tonkin/

2. Augmented Reality Exhibition “Joy” (19th Jan – 11th Mar 2018)

Address: L’Espace French Cultural Center in Hanoi, 24-26 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 18:00 (Grand opening, Friday 19th Jan) and all day (from 20th Jan)
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2017/12/augmented-reality-exhibition-joy/

3. Tết Việt Event (22nd Jan – 24th Feb 2018)

Address: Thang Long Imperial Citadel, 19C Hoàng Diệu Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: 8:00 – 17:00

4. Travelling Exhibition “Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke” (26th Jan – 15th Mar 2018)

Address: The Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 18:00 (Grand opening, Friday 26th Jan) and 8:30 – 18:00 (from 27th Jan)
(The place will be closed for Vietnamese Tet holidays from 13th – 21st Feb)
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/01/travelling-exhibition-contemporary-wood-carved-netsuke/

5. Project Introduction: “Future Written in the Past” (1st – 15th Feb 2018)

Address: Lotte Department Store, Lotte Building, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Hanoi
Time: Costumes display all day
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/project-introduction-future-written-past/

6. Art of Nôm Gallery (2nd Feb – 2nd Mar 2018)

Nôm used to be the national language of Vietnam. Up until now, Nôm calligraphy is still regarded as one of the most beautiful types of culture in Vietnam. In this event, you can explore the art of Nôm as well as ask for Nôm calligraphic paintings from the most respectable calligraphers.
Address: Vietnamese Art Gallery, 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: All day

7. Temple of Literature’s Calligraphy Event (9th – 22nd Feb 2018)

At the beginning of the year, most Vietnamese will have the tradition of going to the temples or pagodas to have good or positive words written by the calligrapher. They believe this is a sign of luck and will bring joy throughout the year.
Address: Văn Lake Area, Temple of Literature, 58 Quốc Tử Giảm Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: 8:00 – 22:00

8. “Màu của tình yêu” (Colors of Love) Gallery (14th Feb – 3rd Mar 2018)

Address: Lotte Observation deck, Lotte Commercial Center, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Hanoi
Time: 20:00 (Grand opening, 14th Feb) and 8:30 – 23:00 (from 15th Feb)
Ticket price: Adult (above 12): 230.000vnd
       Children (from 3-12): 170.000vnd
                      Free for children under 3 years old
Preferential price: 50% discount from 8:30 – 10:30
   50% discount from 22:00 – 23:00
(Tickets should be bought at the ticket counter B1 before 22:30)
For more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/420370568400006/

9. “Tet in Vietnam” Event (16th – 18th Feb 2018)

Address: #75 Phủ Diễn Street, Phủ Diễn Ward, Bắc Từ Liêm District, Hanoi
Time: 17:00 (16th Feb) and 20:00 (18th Feb)
Ticket: vietmountaintravel.com.vn/
For more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/140925886594617/

10. Light Music Festival (17th Feb – 16th Mar 2018)

Address: Bảo Sơn Paradise Park, Km5+200, Lê Trọng Tấn Street, An Khánh, Hoài Đức, Hanoi
Time and ticket price: (check the link below)
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/light-music-festival/

11. Exhibition “Spring Blossoms of Hanoi” (2nd Feb – 3rd Mar 2018)

Address: Hồ Gươm Cultural Information Center, 2 Lê Thái Tổ Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: (check the link below)
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/exhibition-spring-blossoms-hanoi/

12. Program of Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH) (8th, 22nd and 23rd Feb 2018)

Address: Various venues in Hanoi
Time: (check the link below)
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/program-friends-vietnam-heritage-fvh-february-2018/

13. “Selvage/Salvage” – Writing Workshop and Poetry Reading (21st Feb 2018)

Address: Lạc Tạm Antique, 14 Lane 15, Từ Hoa Ward, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/selvage-salvage-writing-workshop-poetry-reading/

14. “Đô thị và Ký ức” (City and Memory) – Solo Exhibition of Artist Nguyễn Thế Sơn (23rd Feb – 31st Mar 2018)

Address: AGOhub, 12 Hòa Mã Street, Hanoi
Time: 18:00 (Grand opening, Friday 23rd Feb) and 9:00 – 19:00 (from 23rd Feb)
For more details: http://www.artvietnamgallery.com/exhibition_detail.php?id=218

15. Concert “Untellable Stories” by Lê Cát Trọng Lý (23rd and 24th Feb 2018)

Address: Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ích, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: 20:00
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/concert-untellable-stories-le-cat-trong-ly/

16. Worship Spring Song Show (24th Feb 2018)

Address: 1st Flr Kim Đức Ca Quán – PHUSALAB, 21/25 Quảng An Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi
Time: 19:30
For more details: https://www.facebook.com/Phusalab/photos/a.137814656989845.1073741828.137290173708960/182881325816511/?type=3&theater

17. African Music Festival (24th Feb 2018)

Address: Hanoi Rock City, 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân Street, Quảng An, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi
Time: 21:00
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/african-music-fest/

18. “Happy Year of the Dog”: The Culture of Bình Phước (24th – 25th Feb 2018)

Address: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Nghĩa Đô Ward, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
Time: 9:00 – 17:30
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/happy-year-dog-culture-binh-phuoc/

19. Book Introduction: “The Rules of Art” (27th Feb 2018)

Address: L’Espace French Cultural Center in Hanoi, 24-26 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 18:00
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/book-introduction-rules-art/

20. Concert with DJ Cédric Dekowski and Felix Reifenberg (2nd Mar 2018)

Address: Savage, 112 Xuân Diệu Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi
Time: 20:00

21. Song Slam “Connection – Kwal” (10th Mar 2018)

Address: L’Espace French Cultural Center in Hanoi, 24-26 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 20:00
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/song-slam-connection-kwal/

22. Subscription Concert Vol.108 (22nd Mar 2018)

Address: Hanoi Opera House, 1 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 20:00
Ticket price: 200.000 – 500.000vnd
For more details: https://hanoigrapevine.com/2018/02/subscription-concert-vol-108/

The post Best Hanoi Events in February & March 2018 appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

The first day of Lunar 2018 – the first day of Tet is on 16th of February 2018

Clothing Shopping

Just like Christmas or the New Year’s Eve in European countries, Tet to all Vietnamese is the time for family’s gathering and crazy shopping! However, do not worry too much about your budget because everything at Tet is fully sale off! If you go to the stores, especially clothing stores, you will find that most of them offer sale off up to 50%. For other things, the price is also comparatively and competitively low so you can be sure that there will be a wide range of choices for you.

If you are interested in clothing stores in Hanoi, glance through this list of locations:

Germe Shop

Germe is now offering from 10% – 30% sale off for all clothes in store from 2nd – 5th February 2018. Especially, if you are interested in Áo Dài, this will be a terrific opportunity to drop by Germe. Germe is now having 11 stores in Hanoi so you can check out its website or facebook page to know more information.

Website: www.germe.vn/
Facebook: Germe Shop
Address 1: #258 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Address 2: #64 Hàng Nón Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Address 3: #273 Xã Đàn Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Magenta Vintage

Magenta will be a perfect place if you love a little bit of vintage style. Magenta offers both new and used clothes with vintage design and style. You can also buy other accessories from scarfs, hats and shoes here. The price is considerably high compared to other stores but you know what they say: “You get what you pay for”.

Facebook page: Magenta Vintage
Address: 2nd Flr, 6 Hàng Đậu Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Price: From 300.000vnd

Boo

Boo is a well-known clothing store in the country. It offers a variety of clothes with all styles but mostly sporty, street and casual for target customers from 15 – 25 years old. There are many BOO stores in the city so below are a few locations suggested.

Website: www.bosua.vn/
Facebook page: Bo sua by BOO
Address 1: #308 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Address 2: #93 Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi
Address 3: #64 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Decao

If you like to go punk, Decao is definitely not a bad choice! Decao offers fantastic street-styled clothes for target customers from above 15 years old. Here in Decao, we go weird and extraordinary!

Photo via znews-photo-td.zadn.vnAddress: #280 Huế Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Facebook page: DECAO

Zara

Foreign visitors will definitely love to hear this name. This is the first year of Zara in Hanoi and if you are a fashion lover, do not miss this chance!

Website: www.zara.com/
Address: #191 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Local Market

Before Tet, the Vietnamese will go shopping for foods and treats to keep in storage because all stores and markets will close at Tet. This will be a great chance if you want to experience the atmosphere of the people bustling preparing for Tet in the country. You should drop by some supermarkets; however, markets are still advisory since everything is cheaper they are just the place for everyone!

Đồng Xuân Market

Đồng Xuân is the most popular in Hanoi. You can get everything you need here, especially foods. For many children as well as many adults, Hôm market is a memory of childhood where they were taken here by their parents to enjoy delicious treats.

Address: Đồng Xuân Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

For more markets in Hanoi Old Quarter, read our article here

Hôm Market

If you want to buy accessories and clothing, just go to Hôm market. This place is praised as the heaven of cloths in the city. Most tailors usually go to this market to buy accessories for their clothes. Of course you will find many other things in this place but it is quite small so there is nothing much you can explore except for… cloths!

Address: Huế Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Long Biên Market

Lying near the foot of Long Biên Bridge, Long Biên Market is indeed a place that most housewives will come at Tet. Long Biên is one of the biggest markets in the city. It is very popular especially for fruits sold at night. The market is divided into many sections from seafood, poultry to cattle meat.

Address: The foot of Long Biên Bridge, behind Trần Nhật Duật Street, Hanoi

Flower Market

Nhật Tân

Nhật Tân is a flower market near Tây Hồ (West Lake). Before Tết, many families will spend their time in Nhật Tân to contemplate the beauty of all the flowers before entering the special time of the year. Many people also go to Nhật Tân to pick up some beautiful peach blossom trees, marigolds or kumquats to décor their houses at Tết.

Address: Âu Cơ Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Quảng Bá

Quản Bá is a night flower market. Despite its small size, Quảng Bá still brings customers a dear feeling to the customers. Quảng Bá is unique, not only for its opening time at night but also for a very traditional sensation that it brings to all visitors. Before Tết, Quảng Bá is also one of the must-come places of Hanoians. The place is the most crowded at night from 1 – 2 am.

Address: Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Hàng Mã Street

Hàng Mã is also a suggested place to go before Tết. If at Midfall festival, the street is decorated with thousands of sparkling floating lanterns, then before Tết, the whole street is covered in the yellow and red shades of votive paper (used as symbolic items to burn for the dead or ancestors at Tết), as well as things to decorate Vietnamese houses. The votive paper has many shapes and sizes. They can be a car, a house, a bicycle or dollars, and Vietnam Dongs. People believe that if they burn these, the ones from the other side (heaven) can receive them.

Address: Hang Ma Street, The Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi.

Events before Tết

Hanoi Looktique (2nd – 4th Feb 2018)

This is an annual garage sale held in Hanoi. Here you will find everything you want from clothes, accessories, bags, shoes and even foods, especially snacks and Korean.

Address: #36 Lý Thái Tổ Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Tết event in Lotte Mart (3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th Feb 2018)

If you do not know what to do before Tết, try dropping by Lotte Mart to participate in great Tết event with lots of interesting activities such as coloring old Đông Hồ paintings, shaping tò he (an edible children’s toy made of rice flour), writing in Chinese calligraphy and so on.

Address: 1st Flr, Lotte Department Store, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: 14:00 – 18:00

Exploring Vietnamese traditional clothes (1st – 15th Feb 2018)

This season, Lotte Mart again brings you some excitement with a fashion gallery of Vietnamese traditional clothes. Coming to the event, not only can you feast your eyes upon amazing fashion show of Vietnames Feudal Clothes, but you can also explore the wonder of Vietname’s culture hidden in layers of traditional silk.

Address: 1st Flr, Lotte Department Store, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Fashion show time: 19:30, 10th Feb 2018

The post Things to Do Before Tet 2018 in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Slowly as the train leaving behind the noisy and gaudy city, Long Biên Bridge, like a concealer, little by little took off its cover and appeared behind the fog of an early morning. “It is a splendor scene”, I thought myself. But at the time, little did I know, there was life, breathing and going on under its pier.

Long Bien (Long Biên) was the first steel bridge built by the French from 1899 – 1902 and named Doumer after the great Paul Doumer. If one day, you walk by the bridge, just look around and you will see the sign: 1899 -1902 – Daydé & Pillé – Paris because it was the name of a French construction company called Daydé & Pillé that built the bridge. And as I grow older, I have driven through the bridge, though little did I actually stop to feast my eyes upon the dust and dawn and the fishing boat letting itself go freely on the gentle stream of the Red River.

It reminds me of my good old days as a child when Hanoi was still a place for the things that were kinda obsolete but strangely dear. Despite living in the city for almost all of my youth, I will probably have to shame myself for not once setting foot to Nhật Tân Flower Garden near Long Biên Bridge and Long Bien local market. Then I decided to travel to this market with our professional photographer, Minh Nguyen, who knows this place so well, to see the beauty of Long Bien local life in the early morning.

Long Biên Market is one of four biggest markets in Hanoi lying right under Long Biên’s pier, behind the border gate. It is where many people from most of the Northern provinces gathering to sell their produces in the hope of earning their livings and supporting their families. People deliver produces from the countryside to Long Bien Market from 00:00 AM to 05:00 AM daily. And if you take a closer look, you will figure it out that most porters working in the market are women. They come from Bắc Ninh, Hà Giang, Thanh Hóa and many elsewhere.

They work hard through the day from 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM, though there are days they carry almost a quintal and only earn around 100.000 – 200.000 Dongs (~USD 5 – USD 10). However, life still goes on with its bustle and hustle going around all day. People here are still selling and people there are still coming to buy. Although they are all doing their jobs, sometimes there is one moment when they, and we are both standing at the line of today and tomorrow to admire and to reminisce: the dawn of Long Biên.

To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Words by Trang Nguyen
Photos by Minh Nguyen

The post Dawn in Long Bien: A Slice of the Local Life | Travel Photoblog appeared first on Maze Vietnam.