Words by Chi Le
Photos by Chi Le, Trang Nguyen, and Nguyen Hoang

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The post Explore the Overlooked but Stunning Landscape of Ninh Binh Vietnam appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Although lots of people recommend not going to Hanoi or Saigon during Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year) as travel is a bit harder with almost all places such as restaurants, coffee shops, and bars getting closed, visiting the two big cities can be a great experience for tourists to be in a  full exposure to a slow pace of life floated in peaceful tranquility, if not say solitude.

Things to do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you hardly see any scooters running up and down like crazy on the streets as usual.

Flower Forrest in the middle of the Capital before Tet

Tet Holiday in Saigon

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 Chi Le
Photos by Minh Nguyen

The post Happy Lunar New Year: LIVE pictures from Vietnam on the First Day appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Incredible, amazing, authentic, wonderful etc. are all the words you must exclaim once you visit these following destinations which no tour guide brochures will tell you! Here are the 10 hidden secret destinations in Hanoi that you should not miss. They are the 10 places that bring you the most authentic travel experience.

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1. Tràng Tiền Lane

The gorgeous Sword Lake and the beauty of the old quarter seem to overwhelm almost all the locals and tourists that they hardly notice a small lovely lane hidden inside the quarter. Many of us – young girls and boys love to call this lane the supermarket one, as it offers you nearly all the must-try street foods in Hanoi, with such a well-known stand serving Bún đậu mắm tôm - tofu & shrimp paste noodles and a sweet bakery shop just as its name “Floating butter cake” – “Bánh bơ bồng bềnh” at the end of the lane. Abandoning itself from the noisy, crowded streets outside, “Tràng Tiền Lane” is not only an escape from the bustle Hanoi but also a paradise for food lovers. The lane is busiest at noon when the well-dressed employees of all modern offices nearby swarm here, sit on cheap plastic chairs, let their hair down after hard working hours.

Address: Tràng Tiền Lane, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

2. Hang Dau’s Water tower

You may mistake this construction for a prison, which is built in the form of a closed cylinder with worn out and tall wall giving people a feeling of sorrow. It is, however, one of the oldest water towers of Hanoi, officially out of order in 1960 after 66 years providing fresh water for the city. Constructed in 1894, even before Long Bien bridge, the 1.250 m3 water tower is popular with Hanoians for many generations, becomes a beholder of all the capital’s changes. In 2010, Hang Dau’s Water tower experienced a reformation but remains its outlook and most of the internal systems till today.

Address: Hàng Đậu St, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

3. Đinh Cafe

Housed in an ancient French villa, this coffee shop is a time machine taking you back to the old days of Hanoi!

If you are a coffee lover and want to visit Hanoi's Oldest coffee shops like Dinh Cafe, you should read our previous article:

https://www.mazevietnam.com/2017/07/06/hanois-oldest-coffee-houses/ 

Address: 13 Đinh Tiên Hoàng St, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

4. Long Biên Market

Bustle, crowded, hurried – it is what you will find in the early morning shift of Long Bien market. As almost all the people of the city are sleeping soundly, merchants from different regions arrive in the market, start a day by loading cartons of fruits and seafood, bargaining, selling and packaging goods. In the usual cold misty weather of Hanoi from midnight to about 4 am, the market is always wet, the paths are slippery, and the atmosphere is the blend of many smells also noises. It is, therefore, highly recommended that you wear boots and not stop for too long at any stands or take photos without permission as you will get scolded by the Vietnamese that you hardly make sense!

Address: Hồng Hà, Phúc Xá, Ba Đình, Hanoi

5. Railway village

The most vibrant but odd way to understand how part of the Hanoi people lives! This railway starts all the way from Hanoi Railway Station to a lot of streets in Hanoi. If you are in the Old Quarter, you can see a part of the railway village above Gam Cau Street, Phung Hung. To learn more about this village, visit our previous article here

6. Bird Cafe

Raising pet birds is quite popular in Vietnam – you come across cages everywhere, beautiful, old, vintage-looking bird cages, with gorgeous little-feathered creatures sitting inside. Enjoying the enchanting voice of such lovely birds while sipping a cup of dark coffee or a condensed milk iced one is the perfect way to start a day for many lots of bird lovers. Lying by Thiền Quang lake, which was once called Halais lake, this bird cafe needs no signboard but serves dozens of drinkers each day. People come here, bring along their birds, turn the cafe into a meeting spot for all bird lovers and somehow an amazing concert every morning! All kinds of birds but mainly the white-eye ones with beautiful voices seem to sing a blended melody, just like a natural masterpiece standing out in the bustle, crowded city life. The cafe opens daily but is busiest on weekends between 8 am to 10 am. Do come by to experience the two most local habits of Hanoi people which you could hardly find elsewhere!

Address: T-section Trần Bình Trọng – Thiền Quang St, Hai Bà Trưng district, Hanoi

7. Red River Rock – Nhật Tân Flower Garden

Wet tropical climate gives Hanoi a unique biodiversity with dozens of kinds of flowers that blossom all year round regarding four distinct seasons. About 30 minutes driving from downtown Hanoi, the Red river rock, and Nhật Tân flower garden are the best spots to experience the natural beauty of the city. From November to the end of the year, the rapeseed garden of “Bai da song Hong” turns itself into a spectacular sea of bright yellow. Depending on the time of year, you can also enjoy a wide variety of seasonal flowers such as roses, cosmos, sunflowers or Cortaderia Selloana flower with fresh color of white. Well-known for its tradition of growing peach blossoms, Nhật Tân flower garden transfers into a sea of punch and magenta by the early January in the lunar month, with all the flowers bloom fully to greet a happy new year!

Address: 264 Lane, Âu Cơ St, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi

Price: 40.000 – 50.000 VND/adult, 30.000VND/child

8. Lệ Mật Village

8 kilometers to the Northeast, “Lệ Mật” is an old village that took its name from a legend passed down for about 9 centuries up to now. In the dynasty of king “Lý Nhân Tông” (1128), there was a strong and brave man with extraordinary skills in catching snakes and aquatic monsters. The legend told that one day, as the princess was cruising on Thiên Đức river (part of Đuống river today), an ogre in the shape of snake attacked her and disappeared. Grieving for his daughter’s death, the king announced to award whoever bringing back her body to him. After fighting bravely against the monster, the young man defeated it. He, however, asked for nothing but a land for his people to settle up. Since then, the village was set up and keeps the tradition of raising snakes till nowadays. Moreover, “Lệ Mật” has many unique constructions such as pagodas, temples, gates and lots of grand trees; delicacies all from the snake, varying from stirred, fried to grilled. The village’s festival is held annually on 23/3 in the lunar month, which is April in the solar month.

Address: Lệ Mật village, Việt Hưng, Long Biên District, Hanoi

9. Al Noor Mosque

Situated on a quiet street of the old quarter, Al Noor Mosque-the Enlightening is just like a marble castle in the city’s heart! Built in 1885 by the Indian community from Bombay (now Mumbai, India), the masjid was designed in the typical Islamic style, with a dome, the curved doors, and the pinnacle, and officially put into use 5 years later as the only place for believers in northern Vietnam. There are 5 prayer times a day: Fajr: 04:55 AM; Sunrise: 06:12 AM; Dhuhr: 11:44 AM; Asr: 2:52 PM; Maghrib: 5:14 PM; Isha: 6:27 PM and a holy Friday. Muslims can pray anywhere providing that it is a clean place rather than at the mosque, but on Friday, they do come here to perform their holy pray. Although the grids of the masjid can be closed between prayers hours, you can enter into the premises by the small door located at the left of the main entrance and bear in mind some rules and tips to have a lovely visit without disrespecting the etiquette.

A few things to remember when you come here:

- Remove your shoes before you enter the mosque. The children should remove their shoes too.

- Don’t wear short or sleeveless clothes; women should wear a headscarf or if you do not have one, just ask for it.

- After entering the mosque, wait silently outside until the prayer hours end or go to sit quickly at the back of the mosque, behind the group. Just remember that men cannot sit behind women. And women should sit with the other women.

There are some few more rules but don’t worry, just follow all the above, be quiet and keep the place tidy that you will break no rules!

Address:12 Hàng Lược St, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

10. Binh Minh Jazz Club

Binh Minh Jazz Club's owner is a well-known Vietnamese saxophonist Quyen Van Minh. He opened up this place for people who love jazz or simply want to learn more about jazz. It is located behind Hanoi Opera House, so it might not be too difficult for you to find. It offers local and international live jazz, good foods, and drinks.

Address: No.1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: http://minhjazzvietnam.com/

If you find any other secret spots in Hanoi, please feel free to share with us via comment below or email to mazevietnam.info@gmail.com! Big love! 

The post Secret Hanoi – Lesser Known Attractions – Here’s Everything You Could Be Missing Out appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

The Bus Cafe is located on the shores of Thuận An beach, which is only a thirty-minute motorbike ride from the central Huế, and faster by car. Like most others, the cafe has a quite large menu to offer, but it is not the quality of the drinks that sets this place apart, it is actually the unique space in which they are served.

The name ‘Bus Cafe’ derives from the fact that buses play a key role in the cafe’s aesthetics: everything from the ordering counter to tables and chairs is made from parts of a bus! The vehicles there were once disused and (maybe) a little disgusted, but now, after some extensive refurbishment, they not only managed to outlast their usefulness as a means of transport, but also prove a hit with younger customers. In fact, such is the atmosphere which the ornamental buses and the cafe as a whole have managed to generate that many people actually choose to camp there just to extend their experience, and before you know it, a tent-renting service has been born, so now everyone can spend the night in this rather peculiar surrounding.

What’s more, the cafe claims to have the best views of all cafes in Huế, and while that may sound a little presumptuous, it is really not. Why? Simple: it is placed directly the n hot sand and not very far from the water, so you can enjoy drinking and at the same time take in the expansive view of the sea (or even swim in). After all, who doesn’t want to sip some coffee on a comfortable bus seat while leaning against its bonnet and marvelling at the colors of dawn right by the seaside.

Many tourists I met before often think of Huế as a solemn and old place, mainly because of the impression they get from seeing the great Imperial City. The truth is, however, that Huế is changing everyday, and with new ingenuous minds emerging from the young generation comes innovative ideas that put a new image on this ancient city. The Bus Cafe is more or less representative of this trend, so on your next trip to Huế, stop by, have a drink, and see how the city is renewing.

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 Duy Nguyen
Photos by Dang Hoang (View more photos taken by Dang Hoang here)

The post Awesome Vintage Bus Converted Into A Beautiful Cafe appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Cross-cultural relationships have been on the common trail in a burgeoning country of global integration like Vietnam. The cross-cultural relationships inconceivably bring a ton of new but beautiful and eye-opening experiences. We just cannot get the full idea of it if we are never in that international love boat.

We often catch sight of intercultural couples with Vietnamese girls hand in hand with Western guys whenever we are in the bar sipping some beers up to the brim or in the middle of all avenues in Hanoi Old Quarter or Downtown Saigon. However, rarely could we find a couple of Trai Viet, Gai Tay, which literally means a Viet man and foreign woman couple. Whether you are a Vietnamese or an expat, I’m pretty sure you might wonder what it’s like to be with a Viet man or the other way round, a Tay girl. You definitely have your own taste when it comes to dating. But you tap onto this article, you are at least keen on the idea of doing so.

So what it’s like to date a Vietnamese man? What are the great things and challenges that a Trai Viet, Gai Tay couple may have? Let’s discover all through a quick but awesome interview I had with Jade T., a beautiful and friendly 25-year-old Australian teacher who has been living in Hanoi for 4 years. She and her boyfriend, a Hanoian man, have been in a relationship for over 2 years!

Now, let’s talk with her!

Could you share your “How we met” story with us? 

We met on the 13th of June, 2015, when a crazy super storm hit Hanoi. He picked me up in the taxi a minute before the heavy rain and wind hit, and during the whole taxi ride and date night we talked and talked and barely noticed the storm. We walked around later amongst the fallen trees and felt totally at ease with each other, the ‘vibe’ was so great.

What was your first impression of him?

Friendly, earnest, polite and with a beautiful smile that made him so much more handsome. I can still clearly remember the way he smiled at me when I walked out of my alley to meet him at the taxi. Instant attraction and all my nervousness disappeared.

When you two were together, how did your and his families react to this cross-cultural relationship?

Very early in the relationship, his parents made it clear that if he chose to marry a “Tay” they would support him. They showed me nothing but kindness, and continue to do so today. My parents love him and would never have an issue with me dating cross-culturally.

What differences would you find between Asian (Vietnamese) and Western men as well as Asian and Western customs/cultures?

We have differing views on some topics, and I feel he’s far more traditional than me. I am a lot more liberal and open to new ideas regarding family structure and career. He was also a lot faster in saying “I love you” than expected, though I’m not sure if that’s cultural or personal. He is a lot more shy in public than I am, and it took a long time before he was comfortable with physical affection in public. In my culture, it’s very normal to kiss in public, especially when you say goodbye to your partner. Here, not so much, and depending on the situation (how many people are looking) I might just squeeze his hand to say goodbye to prevent him from feeling uncomfortable.

Is there any language barrier between you and your partner sometime? 

He’s lived abroad for eight years, his English is better than mine most of the time, so not really. Like any of us, he makes mistakes and asks me to correct them when they arise. It’s great to have a partner who can be your translator too, especially in Vietnam where there are many communication boundaries for foreigners.

Have you and your partner ever encountered misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication? What was it like? 

Not really, but sometimes he can be too ‘straight to the point’ about sensitive topics and I need to remind him to speak more gently. We argued in the beginning when he wanted to playfully ‘tease’ me and I wasn’t in the mood to joke, for example. I sense that teasing is a cute and flirtatious thing to do here, but I don’t enjoy it much at all.

Before having a Vietnamese boyfriend, did you have any predictable depictions of cross-cultural romance? If yes, how do they relate to the reality?

I’d never really considered it before, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised every step of the way. Our relationship gets easier as time goes by, I feel, and I secretly love it when taxi drivers or acquaintances say “REALLY?! You have a Vietnamese boyfriend?!” I guess most people aren’t used to seeing couples like that here. We draw a lot of attention when we hold hands together in public sometimes.

What has been the most memorable moment in your relationship with him?

Probably the day we met, and when we surprised my family in Australia on Christmas Eve and he was able to meet my entire extended family. I felt he really fit in and was so fantastic at getting to know everyone, even though he tends to be shy. Everyone really enjoyed meeting him and they always ask me what he’s up to now.

Do you have any future plans or dreams with him that you would like to share with us?

I’m definitely comfortable with the idea of spending my life with him, so long as we keep supporting each other and helping each other grow. Babies are a topic of interest, particularly with his parents who would absolutely love another grandchild.

Is there anything else you would like others to know that we have not included here?

I think if there was anyone who was unsure about dating outside their own nationality, I would strongly suggest giving it a try. You’ll learn so much, learn more about the world and about humanity in general, we’re all so different but we all need love. Why not open yourself up to that?

I highly appreciate the time that Jade spent with me sharing about her true love story. My team – Maze Vietnam and I would like to take a moment to thank her very much!

How about our readers? Are you ready to give it a try? Are you ready to head all the way from up to the North through the Central then down to the South to find a Vietnamese partner?

To learn more about Jade and her days in Vietnam, you can visit her blog here

To have your story published on our website, please pm Facebook us or email to: mazevietnam.info@gmail.com

The post So You Wanna Date a Vietnamese Man? Read This First! appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

This article unveiling the Vietnamese ordinary habits along with things in and out will definitely offer you a close look at this small S-shaped piece on the planet that is exceedingly familiar to the local insiders but absolutely abnormal to most outsiders. Just a piece of thought. Just a piece of writing. Let’s dive in.

#1 Crosswalks – just to decor on road
Crosswalks marked with white stripes are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can cross roads safely. In lots of countries, it is a must stated in law that all vehicles have to slow down once they see the crosswalks and stop if they see any pedestrians around. However, it is a different story in Vietnam. Crosswalks here are likely seen as a type of decoration, not a signal to alert the motors? Nobody cares or stops if they see you cross the road. You just have to be exposed to the horrible flow of traffic and challenge yourself combating against all the insane scooters, speedy bus and car giants coming from every direction, otherwise you will just freeze, standing still and watching these vehicles pass by all day. This is the reason why most expats often call Vietnam crazy right on the first day they set foot in the two chaotic cities – Hanoi and Saigon. Don’t be scared, be bold and you will be the master of crossing roads in Vietnam!

#2 Watermelon and sunflower seeds onto almost every sidewalk
The vast majority of the young and the not so young in Vietnam have a strong penchant for sipping some cafe or green tea while scattering sunflower seeds onto sidewalks. It can be considered a part of cafe culture. Just a small plate of sunflower seeds and a cup of cafe with a little filter pot on top are all perfect enough to lighten up their days. The strange thing is that people crack the shell, separate the inner seed from the shell, eat the seed, then spit out the shell pieces onto the ground. The sidewalks are then filled with scattered sunflower seeds. Only before the day ends do the salesmen wipe them away and clear out. Just wander through the sidewalks and your brain will get kicked off into action amid the air of weasel coffee beans mixed with the aroma of sunflower seeds.

#3 The most popular drinks: Beers and iced tea
Iced tea and beers are ubiquitous in Vietnam. They are the frappé drinks for us to beat the heat during the summer. Vietnamese people can drink them anytime and anywhere. Iced tea is always offered with meals in almost every food vendor and restaurant, and what is funny is that all Vietnamese people leave a bit after drinking iced tea. We never drink up all but always leave a little bit (about 1/3 or 1/4 of the whole). We have no idea why we do that, though.

#4 The power of Loudspeakers
Vietnam has about 10 000 loudspeakers. Yes, ten thousand. Loudspeakers are a throwback to the 1960s 1970s war years between N. Vietnam and S. Vietnam when they delivered news and warned people to get into a bomb shelter for protection against attack from the air. Nowadays, these loudspeakers still exist, blaring neighborhood announcements covering a range of topics like residential clusters meetings, avian flu prevention, healthcare information and sanitation reminders all over Vietnam through the daily 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM broadcasts in a male or female voice. They begin and end with some beautiful music sort of patriotic rhythms. If you stay in Vietnam, I am 100-percent sure the loudspeakers will wake you up in time. A handful of residents has raised their voice about being annoyed by these loudspeakers sometimes because they can hardly have a good sleep and their ears have been bombarded terribly with the noise coming out.

#5 The Vietnamese’s sweet friendliness
Vietnamese people are friendly and warm with their smiles on face. They are sweet and nice, always happy to welcome everyone to their country. If you get to talk with the locals and get asked about your nationality, age, job, and relationship status right on the first meeting, don’t be too shocked. It is normal here. The Vietnamese ask and answer these questions frequently and they appreciate the topic family life. Hence, to make a good impression when you meet someone from Vietnam for the first time, you can ask about their parents, their spouses, their children, and their relatives directly.

#6 Early school start times
Sometimes we cannot understand why students from other countries often complain about their school start times while we always wish our schools started as late as their schools do. In Vietnam, students in primary schools have to arrive before 7:15 AM, middle schools, and high schools before 7:00 AM, and college/university before 6:45 AM. Yes, 6:45 AM which means we have to try in vain opening our eyes and step away from such loving beds before 6 to prepare for schools. If you backpack to Vietnam for a certain amount of time, long enough to immerse in the local culture, don’t push away a chance to visit any elementary schools here. You will see how Vietnamese pupils yawn cutely in early morning hours, gathering together to do physical exercises at schoolyards.

#7 Take a nap after lunch
The Spanish cannot beat the Vietnamese when it comes to Siesta! Siesta in Vietnam must be regarded an art and the people here are professional siestars (the nappers). Vietnamese people can take a siesta almost everywhere from right on the concrete floors, pavements, motorbikes, little hammocks made of rope mesh and suspended by cords at the ends to under the trees and in the bus next to strangers. Taking a nap is even compulsory at elementary schools where little students have to listen to their teachers, quickly transforming desks made with two wood panels into beds to sleep after lunch time. Nap-time is when you can observe the very slow pace of life by strolling through the streets in light volume traffic, feeling the chilling breezes going through your hair, and seeing an idyllic Vietnam in the midday.

#8 Selfie and selfie sticks all the time
Taking selfies has become an obsession among a large number of Vietnamese people especially the youth. They selfie everywhere, believing capturing the moments is rather than living in. It is common to see hordes of couples, dozens of students or groups of workers lifting up their selfie sticks and ticking countless times on no matter where they are going to – from walking around the tourist attractions, dining out in restaurants, studying at schools to chilling in the public toilets. A recurring hobby can be described: Take a selfie, say no to the first one, take another one, adjust the shot via Instagram and then Facebook it. It is exactly what mills of Vietnamese people do every single day. And it is lovely.

#9 Putting a ton of makeup on every day
Hardly could you see any girls out there in Vietnam particularly in big cities without makeup. My friend from Germany called Hanoi “Milan the fashion world” when she was surprised at Vietnamese girls on streets dressing up so gorgeously with a lot of makeup on. It is true. They wear super-red lipsticks on, tons of face powder, slathering eyes with sexy eyeliners, eyeshadows, mascaras and all. No matter where they plan to go from local markets, schools to the workplace, they put everything on once they get out of their homes. The realm of beauty.

#10 A living room is a garage
Vietnamese families put their vehicles in their living rooms. The scooters or motorbikes fit their living rooms perfectly, so people no longer need to build a separated garage out of the floor. Vietnamese people just place their bikes or even cars there without any purpose of driving through a wall or something else. Sounds like a flexible room, right? How would you feel if your living room was packed with scooters as pieces of furniture and smelt like a garage?

More fun facts about Vietnam? Read our article here and take a look at our vivid album here

The post 10 Strange Things About Vietnam | An Insight Into Local Life & Culture appeared first on Maze Vietnam.