Buzz
Longing for the distant, sometimes it's just about returning to Hanoi, strolling through the Old Quarter, admiring the slow swaying of street vendors' carts, hearing the people of Hanoi talk and laugh, then stopping at a sidewalk tea stall for a sip and feeling thoroughly content.
10 little wonders that make everyone who ventures far fall in love with and long for Hanoi
I've just returned from Saigon after a few days of exploration. The plane landed, and Hanoi greeted me with an early morning in October, with gentle sunlight and a less intense heat. Hanoi is currently calm and accommodating. Why, you ask? Because Hanoi treats someone who once contemplated leaving this city to live elsewhere, someone who still cherishes the joys and new people in Saigon to the point of considering canceling the return flight, with such kindness! The kindness comes from the gentle autumn breeze, from the smile of the taxi driver still half-asleep when picking up an early guest, and from the familiar call of 'xoi xeo here' in a small alley waking up to the dawn.
My Hanoi, at times, makes one reluctant to leave like this!
I have quite a few friends who chose to leave Hanoi. There are many reasons, but one quite common complaint is that it's exhausting in Hanoi. Hanoi is expensive, Hanoi is chaotic, and Hanoi lacks the freedom found in Saigon or the serene sadness of Da Lat. But then, it's also precisely those things—the nights yearning to lie in wait for the seasonal wind in the sound of rain; the craving for a bowl of beef pho, bun thang, or a serving of authentic bun cha—that one longs for, even if they can't be found where they currently reside. The Hanoi that once made them want to leave now becomes a source of longing, known for these little wonders.
Indeed, there are these small things that make everyone who travels far fall in love with and yearn for the Capital City.
1. Hanoi Autumn
Let's give a little favor to autumn, and let me talk about it first. Because Hanoi has many distinctive features, but autumn is always dreamt of, remembered as a precious treasure. It may sound grand, but Hanoi autumn is quite simple. It's just the sun being less intense, the wind being less hot, the air being leisurely and gentle. Stepping outside and taking a deep breath feels refreshing, and the sense that no one around is in a hurry means it's autumn. It's Hanoi in autumn.
2. Ripe Soursop, Young Sticky Rice
Yeah, back to autumn. Who says Hanoi is in its most beautiful days to make people nostalgic? Sometimes, thinking about ripe soursop, about young sticky rice – two things that even Hanoians have to wait for the season to enjoy, not to mention those from afar – saying they long for them is correct. Craving to eat is just a small part; the real longing is for the experience of living in Hanoi during autumn.
3. The First Cold Day
During this period, the weather forecast is somewhat inaccurate, so those who are far away eagerly await the first cold day in Hanoi. Usually, when the season arrives, after a rain, the city becomes chilly. The sky will be somewhat gray, less sunny, or the sun will disappear completely. People on the streets will be seen pulling down their sleeves because it's cold. Sitting in that atmosphere, enjoying a hot bowl of pho, or steamed rice cakes, or rice dumplings, or boiled and stir-fried snails is wonderful. The first cold day is often filled with emotions, and once experienced, it's hard to forget.
4. Evening of the 30th Lunar New Year
A bit chaotic, isn't it? But the evening of the 30th Lunar New Year also defines Hanoi's uniqueness. Hard to describe, when the evening of the 30th comes, people suddenly live slowly. Probably because it's the end of the year, and endings are usually melancholic. On the evening of the 30th Lunar New Year, the streets are deserted, and Hanoi stands there contemplatively, as if reflecting on the changes of the past year. Not everyone is lucky enough to live in Hanoi on the evening of the 30th Lunar New Year, but surely everyone will remember a lot.
5. Ta Hien Street
The busiest Western-style street in Hanoi every night, even more lively on weekends. Here, both Westerners and Easterners are all joyful amidst the loud music playing until late at night. Sipping cool and fragrant grassy beer, on the table are grilled birds, boiled peanuts, golden fried fish, and french fries... occasionally adding a bit of chaos until feeling the need to go home, even though the music is still vibrant.
This is the street where the louder, the more Hanoi it is. Oddly enough, it's the only place where people accept noise as natural, seeing laughter, chatter, and lively music as a cultural feature of the entire street. Being far away, there are nights craving for the chaos, gathering, missing the music, and remembering the grassy beer aroma here as a common sentiment.
6. Bun Thang Noodle Soup
Getting a bit messy again, huh? A very Hanoi dish - bun thang. Hanoians always take pride in having bun thang in their culinary map – a dish that holds a significant place in the hearts of those in Hanoi or far away. With many ingredients and a bit of complexity, enjoying a delicious bowl of bun thang may require a long wait, but it's worth it. Love has to pass through the stomach, and food often makes people remember a city in that way, doesn't it?
7. Grilled Pork Rolls
Adding a bit more about food. It's grilled pork rolls, not sour fermented pork rolls or fried fermented pork rolls. Although dishes made from nem have naturally entered and infiltrated Hanoi's diverse cuisine for a long time, grilled pork rolls will still be the dish that makes people feel most satisfied with snacking, whether they are near or far.
8. Iced Tea
It's more about recalling those sidewalk stalls selling iced tea, something associated with people that can evoke a lot of emotions. What's so special about iced tea? It's just lightly brewed green tea with filtered water, and then lots of ice added. The main thing is still hanging out at sidewalk stalls to see that Hanoi is not as extravagant as one might think. Emotional conversations and confessions are still being shared on these streets – waiting for the day when someone returning from afar continues their story.
9. White Chrysanthemum
The pure and delicate bouquets of white chrysanthemums have once melted many hearts about Hanoi, can you believe it? These heaven-announcing flowers bloom in winter, making the street suddenly feel tender and poetic with clusters of chrysanthemums trailing behind a slender bicycle riding ahead. Hanoi in the days of white chrysanthemums is so romantic and lovable, so wherever you go, you'll always remember...
10. Walking Street
Although new, Hanoi's charming walking street will leave an impression. On weekends, yearning for relaxation, come here, park your bike, and walk, admire the surroundings, listen to music, and watch people happily. The walking street has many adorable corners, truly small things that bring joy.
Yearning for something far away, sometimes it's just about returning to Hanoi, walking through the Old Quarter, admiring the slow pace of street vendors' bamboo shoulder poles, hearing Hanoians talk and laugh, then stopping at a tea stall for a sip, and that's enough happiness.
According to Kenh14
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourOctober 19, 2016
