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Home●Tours and routings●HaNoi - the detail |
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Ha Noi |
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There are distinct areas for visitors to HaNoi which make it convenient to fit
sight-seeing here in between side trips to Mai Chau, Sa Pa and Ha Long Bay. |
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Area 1: Hoan
Kiem Lake |
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In the area north of the
lake is the 36 Streets area in which all your travel and food needs will be
met.
WomPom recommends that you immediately, following you hotel check-in, locate
this area and the Travel Agents/Tour Operators (addresses below) to make
reservations for Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa.
There are also restaurants with special treats to await your taste buds - these
are listed here.
To the northeast of the lake is the Water Puppet Theatre, a must see on
your itinerary.
You will have to buy the tickets early in the day for the show you wish to see.
Don't buy the cheap seats, get the show in your face with the slightly higher
priced ones. They will surcharge you for taking cameras and your shots will
never be as good as the postcards that will be offered you on the streets of
HaNoi!
In the area east of the lake
you will see the head office of the Post Office with its Russian design
over-powering the scenery.
You will see a high rise building a few hundred metres to the rear of the Post
Office - this is where you can locate the VietcomBank at 23 Phan Chu Trinh
Street where there is excellent service in the English and French languages -
some tellers even speak Russian - as well as a wide range of services available.
The VietcomBank bank usually offers the best exchange rates and is recommended -
if you are using a bank.
The VietcomBank actually has an extensive string of ATM's across the country -
new in 2003 - and hopefully Travellers will be allowed to use them instead of
travelling around with wads of money stuffed into every orifice.
In the area southwest of the
lake is a shopping centre, very new and still developing its marketing
strategies - but it has good air-con!
In the area south of the lake
there are some stores that can be relied upon for fresh film and batteries that
have a charge! WomPom recommends that you at least get your film developed -
even if not printed - so that your memories are safer.
There is a very 'western'
cafe to be found on the southwest corner of the lakes 'boardwalk' where you can
relax and watch Hanoians exercising early in the morning and in the
evenings.
In the area west of the lake
can be found a branch of the ANZ bank that will charge non-customers very high
service charges.
Importantly, and located in a small mews off the street behind the ANZ bank is a
supermarket where all your 'western' needs can be satisfied - as well as the
sale of large containers of water that you can carry with you on your journeys
out of town. The charges for a litre of water in the larger sizes is
disproportionately cheaper than for the smaller hand-sized bottles. |
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Area 2: National Monuments |
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This is the area north and west
of of the central area where the One-Pillar Pagoda, HO Chi-Minh's Mausoleum
(dress code), Stilt House and Library are located.
To the north of this area are located the Quanh Thanh and Tran Quoc Pagodas - a
taxi to them would likely help - returning to the National Monuments area is
easy because of the building heights.
Walking to and from the National Monuments area is accomplished by following Trang Thi, the road on the south side of Hoan Kiem Lake, in a westerly
direction to the intersection of Dien Bien Phu and then following Dien
Bien Phu in a northwesterly direction to its extremity, which terminates at the
Mausoleum.
En route, along Dien Bien Phu, you will pass The Citadel, the military barracks
where the senior military brass enjoy a great lifestyle.
It is gradually being opened up to the public and is well worth visiting if the
opportunity arises. WomPom visited once, as a guest, and noted the architecture
still retains its French characteristic.
Walking time in either direction is under one hour for even the most lethargic
types. Do explore the small mews or cul-de-sacs on either side of the suggested
route, for there you will meet Hanoians in their natural environment.
Near the intersection of Dien Bien Phu and Tran Phu is the
Military Museum - another interesting sightseeing destination for Travellers .
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Area 3: Ga Ha Noi |
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The area to the southwest of the intersection of Dien Bien Phu and Trang This is
where the Ga HaNoi can be found along with Hoang Cuong Hotel, Indochine Hotel,
SaiGon Hotel, Bia Hoi store, Fansland Cinema, former jail site called The
HaNoi Hilton, Hotel 30/4.
There is also the Ambassadors (Quan Su) Pagoda @ 73 Quan Su Street. Described as
HaNoi's most impressive pagoda and the centre of Buddhism and dates from the
15th Century. |
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Area 4: South
of Hoan Kiem Lake |
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You will find the notable Hai Ba Trung Temple, two kilometres south of Hoan Kiem
Lake at Tho Lao Street.
This area is also where to find Com Chay Vegetarian Restaurant, SoHo
Cafe/Delicatessen, Le Bistro, Le Splendide. |
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