Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. The first thing that will strike you when you come to Hanoi is the number of motor-bikes on the streets. Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City operate on the back of hundreds of thousands of motor-bikes. And what's more, the cars on the road spend every moment of the day honking the horn at the motor-cyclists.
As well as this, you still have people using bicycles and will probably be amused by the site of a man on a bicycle carrying a pig. You will see it all in Hanoi!
The second thing that will strike you about the place is that it is youthful!
Within Hanoi you will find Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum as well as the Army museums, important reminders of the war with the United States of America. However, around half of Vietnam's population were born after the war and the result is that many Vietnamese citizens have put the war behind them and are now more concerned with finding a good job and getting the same type of comfort and financial security that we seek in the west.
Vietnamese people are friendly and English is widely spoken in Hanoi. As a tourist you will find that people are constantly trying to hustle you and it can be a little irritating. Unlike the Thais, who hustle you in a gentle way and always with a smile, the Vietnamese have a slightly harsher edge to them and this can be a bit unsettling for westerners who are not used to this type of approach.
Having said that, you will truly enjoy Hanoi, which, although it is changing rapidly, still has many reminders of what Asia was like in says gone by. Vietnam is well worth the trip and Hanoi is an experience that you will be glad you had.
For the gay traveller, Vietnam is a country where gay people still tend to live in the shadows, living a discreet life. There is no gay scene as such, so if you are looking for a fortnight of constant clubbing and dancing then this is not the destination for you. There are lots of gay man and woman in Vietnam and you will find them amazingly friendly. But, as with any country where gay life is not accepted by the authorities, there will be some locals who seek to exploit your homosexuality.
Things to do in Hanoi
coming soon....