Hanoi Part One: Vibrant, buzzing and a lot of fun

First of all - Hanoi was hot. REALLY hot. Without a hotel pool, we've spent most of each day dripping with sweat, but it was worth it for the incredible sights, sounds and smells of this buzzing city.

First we took a slow walk around the Hoàn Kiếm Lake, which provides a peaceful contrast to the busy Old Quarter right to the north. Here I wandered past a doorway that perfectly framed the bridge over the lake into Ngoc Son Temple.

Near the lake you can discover the traditional water puppetry art form, which is a must-see in Hanoi. The puppets dance on water, telling stories of Vietnamese folklore and daily life. It's a unique cultural experience that was highly entertaining even without the optional English audio guide.

Heading north into Old Quarter, you'll see throngs of street vendors, including those carrying "portable kitchens" and loads of fresh fruit. This image stood out to me as feeling very typical of my time in Hanoi, with this seller also wearing the Nón Lá (which translates literally as "leaf hat").

Mopeds are everywhere in Hanoi - we're told there are at least 9 million, although our guide guessed there's actually many more when you account for people visiting from other cities. It's chaotic at times, but a great way to get around. This image captures the fun of moped travel.

The people of Hanoi will transport anything and everything by moped. I couldn't figure out what was on the back of this moped, but it looked like far too much to be able to carry safely.

Finally we took a slow walk around the Old Quarter at night. Among the many tourists, you'll find beer shops that spill out across the street and then tuck their tables away when a car comes. We also passed street musicians, so I captured this photo of a young boy in the band, playing an instrument I can't identify.

Hanoi was a fantastic cultural introduction to Vietnam. If you enjoyed this post, have any questions, or know what instrument that boy is playing in the last photo - head over to the "Get in Touch" page and drop me a message!