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We’re on to part seven of our blog series with successful photographer Sian Owen. In this blog she’s just finished her time in central Vietnam. She now heads to the northern part of Vietnam, specifically Hanoi.
With so much interest in teaching English in Vietnam and Hanoi being a city where a lot of teachers are likely to be placed, this blog post is a great introduction into what life will be like there.
Hanoi
A flight from Hue to Hanoi takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. From Hanoi Airport you can catch an Uber to the Old Quarter which at the time was about 300 000VND ($12.90 US). Sian describes using Hanoi as a ‘base’ while she explored Halong Bay, Sa Pa and Cat Ba.
A magical building next to a gorgeous lake.
Accommodation
Hanoi 3B Hotel & Gia Thinh Hotel
“We first stayed at Hanoi 3B hotel, then when it was full we moved to Gia Thinh Hotel. I highly recommend both places, they had ‘free’ breakfast and they are based in an incredible location, right at the heart of the old quarter.”
Activities
Wander around the old Quarter
within the hustle and bustle of the city.
“You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t wander around this ancient place. It’s crazy, chaotic, vibrant and most certainty entertaining. It’s quite impossible to put it into words, it’s something you just have to experience.”
A very practical way of selling some fruits.
Very regular scenes in this part of the city.
Mission to find the Old Railway
“This is a very awesome place. I was so chuffed we found it! Such a great opportunity for taking photos”
A few naps on the old railway line.
Imagining the history on these tracks.
Perfume Pagoda
“This is something we would’ve loved to do had we had enough time.”
65th floor of the Lotte Building
“A friend of mine advised me to go there to see the best views of the city, but sadly by this point of our trip, we didn’t have enough money to spare for such luxuries”
Day trip to Tam Coc
Image by Jordan Opel.
“This costs $20. It’s 3 hours each way on a public bus. Everyone we met along the way recommended this to us, but we just did not have enough time to do this either, although we would’ve loved to.”
Food
Giang cafe’ for the local ‘egg coffee’
A universally delicious cup of coffee.
“I know it sounds gross – coffee with raw egg yolks, but you HAVE to try it! It’s more like a dessert then a coffee – extremely rich, creamy and sweet. It’s made with coffee, yolks, cream and condensed milk, it’s so delicious.”
Aubergine cafe
“So cheap and so good. Try the deep fried aubergine coated in sesame seeds. We ate here 4 times in 3 days.”
Bun Bo Nam Bo
A bowl of deliciousness.
“This is also a must try! It’s about 60 000VND ($2.60 US) for a bowl of noodles, beef, herbs, crispy onion and peanuts which sit on a spicy sauce rather than a broth-like ‘pho’. They literally only have 4 items on their menu which they’ve perfected.”
Banh Mi 25
Tasty, comfort food.
“This place was just as good as all the other Banh Mi’s we’d eaten around Vietnam. Really well run franchise!”
Sian Owen is a South African Business Science graduate and photographer. She specializes in wedding and lifestyle photography. This series of bog posts follows her recent trip through Cambodia and Vietnam, showcasing the incredible beauty of these two fascinating countries.
To see more of Sian’s amazing photography, here are her contact details:
Website: www.sianowenphotography.com
Facebook: sian.owen.photography
Instagram: @sianowenphotography, @sian_owen
Email: info@sianowenphotography.com
Phone: +27 79 981 0981
Interested in Teaching English, volunteering or interning abroad? We’ll send you more info!
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