There is no lack of choices when it comes to shopping in Hanoi, the one-thousand-year old capital of Vietnam. The city offers you a wide variety of items from authentic silk, ethnic minority souvenir to wooden products.

It may be the case that the majority of souvenirs and crafts in Hanoi are readily available in numerous shops in the center districts near HoanKiem Lake. Below are some small suggestions for foreigners who may not currently come up with interesting ideas for shopping in Hanoi.

1. Silk and Embroidery:

Tourists can not miss authentic traditional silk when visiting Vietnam, a typical Eastern country. There are some differences in the way locals make silk in each region of Vietnam but the Van Phuc village in Hanoi has been renowned for making the best silk in the country. You can buy draw silk, print silk or patterned silk with national decorations as a unique gift for friends and families in Hang Gai, a small street near the Old Quarter.

2. Ethnic Minority Products:

Excluding the dominant Kinh people, Vietnam is home for 53 ethnic groups scattering mostly in the Northern mountainous region in Vietnam and each group has its own costume with distinctive designs. In this day and age, both handicrafts and clothes with unique decorations and special weaving from various ethnic groups are widely sold in souvenirs shops of Hanoi capital.

3. ‘Do’ paper:

Do paper is made from the bark of the Do tree, a wild plant commonly found around local riverbanks. It was in popularity for many years before the modern paper production these days has been invented. Now Do paper is only used to make Hanoi’s ethnic greetings cards, water color, folk paintings and bamboo-bound notebooks. Do paper cards with embroidered squares cost more or less 2 USD, bamboo bound notebooks are from 1.50 USD and hemp covered notebooks from 2 USD. You can purchase Do paper related products in Hang Gai or Hang Bac Street.

4. Handicrafts:

Handicrafts in Hanoi varies from lacquer ware, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, ceramics, sandalwood statuettes, watercolours, oil paintings, prints and assorted antiques (real and imitation). Hang Gai, To Tich, Hang Khai and Cau Go Street are significant shopping destinations. The price ranges from 3-7 USD depending on each item.

5. Designer Boutiques:

Fashion lovers can purchase exquisitely crafted custom-tailored clothes with a bargain price when visiting Hanoi. You just need to bring magazine catalogue or the item of clothing you want to copy and provide the tailors your instructions. Ordering shirts, blouses, gowns, cocktail and especially Ao dai (the traditional long dress in Vietnam) made of Vietnam authentic silk is absolutely worth a try. Khai Silk shop at Hang Gai Street is one of many tailor-made boutiques. The cost is about 25-50 USD per outfit.

Useful Tips:

- In most cases, you can negotiate the price off 10-40% from the quoted price. Nonetheless, please be noted that a vigilant bargain hunters are always polite and friendly with a ready smile.
- It is better to shop around the Old Quarter to collect the price and select your most-interested items since browsing does not necessarily mean buying.

This is a destination that should not to be missed for those who are interested in architectural heritage and traditional arts of the Khmer in Hanoi.

The first Khmer temple in Hanoi was recently inaugurated at the Culture- Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups.

Built in an area of about 0.8 hectares based on the prototype of the K’Leang temple in the Mekong Delta, the Khmer temple complex is a collection of the most impressive works of Khmer architecture. It is considered the Khmer’s icon of culture, religion and beliefs.

The complex consists of the main temple, shrines, corner towers, garden tower, boat house, flag poles and lotus pond. Each work has different height and are connected through system of corridor paved with rough stones that mingle with the surrounding landscape.

The works all have tiled roofs of fish-scale shape and decorative details of Khmer belief such as flowers, gods…

During the inauguration, spiritual rituals of the Khmer people were conducted.

The construction of the Khmer temple complex in Culture-Toursim Village not only contributes to create a “common house” for the Vietnamese ethnic community, but also shows the pride of the Khmer people.

The temple complex serves as a cultural spiritual center of the Khmer people in Hanoi, as well as a place to connect the Khmer with other ethnic communities. Along with other works of the Culture- Tourism Village, it becomes a tourist destination attracting domestic and foreign tourists

Traditional theatre is becoming less and less attractive to the domestic audience. However, Ha Noi Cai Luong [reformed opera] and Viet Nam Tuong [classical drama] troupes are successfully running traditional shows especially designed for foreign tourists at the Golden Bell Theatre and Hong Ha Theatre right in the heart of the capital’s Old Quarter.

It’s a cool Saturday evening. Multicoloured twinkling lights in shops are switched on in the old streets, adding to the mystery of the old architecture. There is bustle in the air with more and more local residents and tourists going out in search of entertainment.

In the warm, small and almost-a-century-old Golden Bell Theatre right in the heart of the busy streets, dozens of foreign tourists enjoy a regular show featuring the musical and dancing cultures of different regions in Viet Nam.

The show takes tourists on a trip from the north to the south, displaying the musical heritage of the regions like quan ho (love duet) singing in the north, cai luong (reformed opera) in the south and Cham dance in the central region. English subtitles describe the contents of the show on a screen. The audience bursts into applause sometimes after short performances.

Professor Shaun Zeng from Malaysia cannot help but take photos of the show with his camera. “The show is so rich in culture,” he told Viet Nam News excitedly after the one-hour show. “It’s a wonderful show for tourists. I almost cried while watching the short play about the thief and the blind person. The show gave me a sense of the Vietnamese culture.”

Having experienced music throughout the world and during his one-week Viet Nam visit, Zeng admitted he had enjoyed the trip a lot and would return.

Among the last guests to leave the theatre, Isabelle Tong, a French woman who runs a company organising events for children in Morocco, spent time with the artists after the show.

“I’m looking for events to include in a holiday trip for my children and clients who are parents,” she said. “The show could be a wonderful choice for entertainment. It’s an ideal cultural show for them.”

Being performed for almost a year now, the show lures many tourists every Saturday between 7pm and 8pm.

“I’m thinking of introducing more typical Vietnamese musical features in the show such as hau dong [a form of shamanism] performance and some more background props to make the audience understand the musical items and the Vietnamese culture better,” said Tran Quang Hung, director of the Ha Noi Cai Luong Theatre.

“For example, for the gongs performance, we may put more images of houses-on-stilts in Central Highlands and for the Cham dance, we may bring some more statues of Cham culture,” he said.

Shows for tourists

At Hong Ha Theatre nearby, Viet Nam Tuong Theatre performs regular shows for tourists every Monday and Thursday between 6pm and 7pm.

The shows include five select items of classical opera including Old Man Bringing Young Wife to Festival, Ho Nguyet Co Transforming into a Fox and traditional musical and dancing items like nha nhac (Hue royal music) and Lan Me De Lan Con (Mother Kylin Giving Birth to Children).

A newly-designed progr-amme titled Dem Hoang Cung (Royal Night) was staged recently for tourists.

“Foreigners are always hindered by the language barrier while watching classical drama shows,” said programme director Dang Ba Tai. “Our new show does not concentrate on the vocal art but introduces the art of traditional dancing, music and performance.”

The show is divided into two parts. In the first part, tourists can get up close to see how the costumes are made, the faces made up and the props prepared.

They can try makeup, disguise themselves as classical drama characters with costumes, take photos with artists or paint wooden swords, used as props, and take them home as souvenirs.

The second part of the show is staged like a classical drama meant for royal members in a feudal court, with an introduction by an English-speaking MC who plays the role of a eunuch.

“I have been told a lot about Vietnamese classical drama. But this is the first time I have seen such a show,” said Makoto Okuwa from Japan, “It’s very easy to understand. I enjoyed both the English subtitles and the artists’ performance. The music is wonderful. I think it has an attraction that is different from that of other types of art in the world.”

Canadian tourist Annabel Fritz is especially interested in studying how to sew glittering buttons on the costumes. “I can’t imagine it requires so much time and care to make the costumes,” she said. “You should be proud of the art. It’s a real cultural heritage that has vocal art and performance skills, the art of makeup and of making costumes.”

Director Tai said the theatre would soon coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to invite representatives from travel agencies throughout the country to see the show and introduce it in their package tours.

“It’s high time the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism connects the tourism sector and theatres,” said Ho Viet Ha, an official from the culture ministry. “We should not let single theatres find tourists themselves.”

Kobune Sushi might be located in a mega mall, but the marine-themed restaurant offers a more authentic sushi experience than many other Japanese establishments in the capital city.

If you’re a fan of sushi and sashimi, there are plenty of Japanese restaurants in downtown Ha Noi on Trieu Viet Vuong or Bui Thi Xuan or further west on Kim Ma, a whole street with Japanese restaurants and lounges that cater to every budget. So when I found out about Kobune Restaurant in the newly opened Mega Mall in Royal City, I was skeptical about making the long trip. It turned out, however, that it was worth the ride.

Kobune Sushi in Japanese means “The Boatman Sushi”, and it’s the perfect destination for a family: the adults can do the shopping and the children can play in the Kidz city, then everyone can sit down to have dinner together at the sushi bar or the tables nearby. Kobune Sushi is conveniently located near the parking area: just ask the security man along the road, and he will steer you in the right direction.

We were a big group, so each person chose a main course and we all shared the appetisers. The mixed tempura (VND135,000 or US$6.5) was a good pick, filled with crispy shrimp. Fresh salmon sashimi (VND118,000) was gone very fast as the salmon was fresh and juicy.

Dinh Ngoc Quang, owner of the restaurant, has 25 years of experience making sushi and teaching at the Gastronomy Centre in West Berlin. Quang first went to Moscow at age 16 to study clarinet. After graduation, before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, he made his way west to Berlin.

In his restaurant at Royal City, a set of seven boats on the ceiling shape a chandelier that represents a fisherman going out to sea every day to fetch fresh food to bring to diners.

“The most distinguished feature of my restaurant,” he said, “is that sushi is placed on real little boats that float on water to the diners.”

Starting in 1991, Quang worked in Japanese restaurants, where he learned to make sushi from sushi masters.

“I fell in love with Japanese cuisine. It fits perfectly with my artistic nature. Sushi also has its own style, which really fascinated me,” Quang said.

In the past ten years, as the economy in Viet Nam grew, many cuisines made their way to Ha Noi. But Quang estimated that 80 per cent of the capital’s Japanese restaurants still made “different sushi” rather than the traditional Japanese style. “There is only one sushi master, at the Nikko Hotel,” he said. “I would like to bring to the table the authentic sushi as they make in Japan, with all the rice and seaweed imported from Japan and all the fresh seafood imported either from Europe or Japan.”

Kobune chefs have seven or eight years working experience and are retrained for at least six months to maintain the standard set by the owner.

For those who don’t like raw fish, I strongly recommend the Avocado Maki (VND25,000) and salmon and Avocado Inside Out (VND59,000). Chicken Sticks with Teriyaki sauce (VND89,000) are another tasty option.

Children who like hot and salty food will enjoy Chicken Udon (VND89,000) and seafood udon (VND99,000). The soups are big enough to fill the empty stomachs of the kids who waited past their dinnertime because of the long ride. We had rice with roasted sama (VND89,000) and felt quite full.

Still, a trip to a Japanese restaurant is never complete without either smooth mochi (glutinous rice) sweets (VND45,000 for two pieces) or matcha (green tea) ice cream (VND48,000).

The restaurant boasts more than 100 dishes, but once you find a dish you enjoy, you tend to order it every time you go. Many diners enjoy the eel dishes, although I didn’t get a chance to try them.

If you work near the Royal City complex, you can try the set lunch menu at a comfortable price of less than VND200,000. For the downtown folks, it’s too far away for a quick lunch.

But if it’s raining like last weekend and you have a whole Saturday or Sunday to entertain the whole family, a trip to Royal City with lunch or dinner at Kobune Sushi is a great choice.

“In Germany, I had a sushi named after my family name: Mr. Dinh,” Quang told me. “It is a roll with cooked salmon and a piece of eel on top. Here at Kobune, it’s called Kobune Roll (VND79,000) a plate.”

For that, I will definitely make another trip to Royal City!

Source: VNS

Hai Duong, a province in the heart of the Hong (Red) River Delta, is a famous tourist destination for water puppetry, a unique and traditional artistic display in Viet Nam.

While driving to Thanh Hai Village, 60km west of Ha Noi, for the show, I could not help thinking of the artwork I used to see in the small, temporary pond in my favorite city in Viet Nam.

However, instead of watching a puppet dancing in a small pond on a small stage at a concert, the charming commune presented something we will never forget: puppets dancing to live music in a real pond out in the open, under the shade of the bamboo trees, among the locals.

Puppet shows play an important role in Vietnamese culture, and some towns and villages throughout Viet Nam host their own productions.
When we first entered the village, residents pointed to a middle-aged man who was drying his rice on the ground, saying he was the leader of the water puppet performers there. Pham Khac Xoa, 45, is the head of the Thanh Hai water puppet group, and like most of his members, he’s a farmer who stopped his work to share some of the secrets of his art with us.

As we headed to a small storage area where the group kept the puppets, Xoa said, he had practised this art since the age of seven and has learnt a lot from the village’s experienced artists and visiting puppeteers.

According to Xoa, it’s not known exactly when water puppets began making an appearance in Viet Nam, but villagers say it began in the lakes and waterways of the Song Hong (Red River) Delta, amongst the rice paddy fields.
The puppets are made of light pieces of wood taken from local fig trees, since these are easy to carve and are light enough to allow the puppets to float on the water’s surface.

After being carved, the wood is dried, painted and assembled with arms, legs and heads. The puppets have strings that allow their limbs to be moved. These strings are attached before the puppets are painted.

We were taken to a newly built temple in the middle of the lake, where the performances are staged. This area has become a place where the villagers meet and talk and where festivals are held.
When we joined the crowds that had already gathered for the show, we were told that Thanh Hai’s water puppets had first appeared in the 18th century and since then have featured at most village festivals, such as the beginning of the harvest.

Most shows usually have 10 different scenes and require between five and eight artists, who work behind the curtain. The puppeteers stand in thigh-high water to control their characters.

Spending hours in the water can be taxing for the farmers, and so they have to be in good health. Where they once had to sing and talk during the event, the performers now use recordings of their voices to allow everyone to hear them clearly.

We were lucky to have live music to accompany the production and even a chorus of singers to intensify the drama of the show.

When the dances were performed, I was touched by the sense of simplicity and purity surrounding these farmer-artists who spend much of their life in the fields and who rely heavily on good weather and good crops to prosper.

This is their chief artistic outlet, and it’s one shared by the entire village. It’s a strong representation of their lives, their hopes, and the beauty of Viet Nam’s rural areas.

After a quick tutorial from these master puppeteers, one of us was invited to perform in the Dragon Dance, which is part of the overall show.

He had to control the smallest dragon, which is one of five to appear on the water. We were told that this dance symbolises good weather and good crops for the farmers.

Of course, he was not able to do it professionally but was able to make it move with the other dragons. When we saw him again after the dance, he was soaked from head to toe.

The lucky guy was quite happy and said it was much harder than it looked but added that he had had fun doing it. I wished I was him for a while, but then, I would not have had the chance to enjoy the entire show.

After we returned to the city in the late afternoon having enjoyed Hai Duong’s specialties of green bean cakes, fish noodles and some fresh tea, we concluded that the area offers a wealth of things to see, do and eat, and it’s the perfect distance from Ha Noi for a day trip. Whether it’s to watch the show or take in the fresh air of the countryside, you’ll find plenty to experience there.

Source: VNS

Having a cocktail and talking with a few new friends is how to enjoy the nightlife of many expats and foreign tourists in the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Unlike the conceptions of many Vietnamese customers who usually go to a bar to release stress, dance and drink, foreign visitors go to bars to not dance but only just to listen to music, enjoy a few glasses of beer and talk. Below are several bars managed by expats and favored by expats in the Old Quarter.

1. Rockstore, 61 Ma May

Rockstore can be regarded as a typical western-styled bar in the Old Quarter, ran by Olivier Waryn, a Swiss man.

Opened in September 2013 and thanks to its soothing décor, open space with rock style, the new bar has quickly become a destination for many foreign tourists and expats in Hanoi.

The bar is a two-story yellow house in France architecture style. On the 1st floor is a bar serving alcoholic beverages such as wine, cocktails, mocktails, beer … and lounges for small groups.

The second floor is designed for big groups and some billiard tables. The highlight of the bar is bent lampposts.

If other bars only open from afternoon to evening, Rockstore opens all day. But just when the night comes, visitors will understand how Rockstore is.

The bar has performances of DJs or rock bands in all evenings. In addition to drinks, the bar offers some Vietnamese cuisines like bun cha, spring rolls…

2. Fat Cat Bar, 25 Ta Hien

Fat Cat Bar is also managed by Waryn Olivier and a French friend. Compared with Rockstore, Fat Cat is smaller but its décor is very special.

The combination of a lively bar and a gently lounge creates a comfortable atmosphere at Fat Cat Bar.

Most of the customers are foreigners. They can gather around the bar inside or sit outside the door to sip a glass of beer and talk for hours. If they like sitting, they can climb up to the loft.

Fat Cat Bar regularly organizes music parties with different themes. The favored drinks here are beer and cocktails. If you want to call a special drink, it would be a Fatcat cocktail.

3. Finnegan’s Irish

The name Finnegan’s Irish apparently derives from the famous novel “Finnegans Wake” by the Irish writer James Joyce. Located on the 2nd floor of No. 32 Luong Ngoc Quyen stret, Finnegan’s Irish is in European classic style with wooden and leather furniture in brown – black colors.

It is not too wide but Finnegan’s Irish takes advantage of maximum light and space to create different spaces. If you go there alone, you can sit at the bar, if in a group, you can select a suitable table, otherwise you can call a beer and take the glass to the balcony to enjoy watching the streets.

In addition to alcohol drinks, Finnegan’s Irish also serves tea, coffee and snacks. In particular, the bar regularly organizes events associated with international football tournaments.

4. Funky. B

Funky B (formerly called Funky Buddha) is a bar located at No. 2 Ta Hien, known for house, trance and techno music. With unique music style, this place is a very popular address of foreign tourists and the foreign community in Vietnam.

Compared to many bars in the Old Quarter, Funky B is fairly large with two bars of two different styles. The bar near the door is somewhat “ordinary” while the inside bar is more impressive with a bird-cage wine rack. If you do not like the bustling atmosphere with DJ music, you can sit at the bar near the door to drink and chat with friends.

5. Spy Bar

Spy Bar at No.12A Nguyen Huu Huan Street is similar to Finnegan’s Irish in design but visitors can still find here unique features. The bar is small, with several long benches for groups and high stools at the bar. You can go upstairs if you want a more private space.

Spy Bar has live music and mini gameshows in Friday evening. Drinks here are quite cheap, VND20,000-40,000 ($1-2)/beer bottle, VND15,000-20,000/a cup of coffee and tea.

It is a traditional Vietnamese that stars can decide people’s fortune throughout the year, but some say that this practice is a waste of time and money.

It is not uncommon after Tet to hear questions like, “What star will shine on you this year,” or, “Have you gone to a pagoda for the ‘bad star’ relieving ceremony?” According to this belief, both “bad stars” and “good stars” can affect the luck of a person.

According to Eastern culture, each person’s fortune during any given year will, based on their age, be defined by one of the nine stars: La Hau, Tho Tu, Thuy Dieu, Thai Bach, Thai Duong, Van Han, Ke Do, Thai Am, or Moc Duc. Thai Bach is thought to bring bad luck to anyone it shines upon.

There is an old saying “Thai Bach bán sạch cửa nhà,” or, “If you get the Thai Bach, you will loose all your possessions.”. Besides, La Hau is considered a bad star for men and Ke Do bad for women. Meanwhile, Thai Duong is the best star that will bring good luck for those it shines on.

After Tet many people flock to pagodas and temples to see what star will shine on them for the year. Others study astrology books or search the internet to learn their fate. If they get a bad star for the year, many attend a ceremony to get rid of the bad luck, organised by a pagoda or temple.

Anyone who visits Phuc Khanh Pagoda on Tay Son Street, in Hanoi will be able to see the popularity of this custom. There are extremely long lines to register for the bad luck relieving ceremonies.

“This year I have the Thai Bach Star and my husband got the La Hau Star,” said Vu Phuong Nhan, a woman who lives on Lang Ha Street. “I was born in 1987 and my husband was born in 1985. This year we both have bad stars. That’s why we both registered here to relieve our bad luck.”

The situation was the same at other pagodas: Quan Su, Ha and Tran Quoc Pagodas. Temples too, such as Quan Thanh Temple on Thanh Nien Street provide these services.

At Quan Su Pagoda, a man cried happily after seeing that his star for the year was Thai Duong. “I am 32 years old this year, and will register for a ceremony to welcome the good star,” he exclaimed.

He added that all the members of his family take part in the ceremony every year. “We just want to put our minds to rest about the coming year,” he explained.

In Ho Chi Minh City, large pagodas such as Pho Quang and Xa Loi also receive thousands of people for these ceremonies.

Phuc Khanh Pagoda has arranged five tables for registration from people, at a fee of VND100,000. The pagoda held the ceremony for people with La Hau on January 8th of the lunar calendar.

Those who have been designated Thai Bach will have another on the 15th and Ke Do on 18th.

Quan Su Pagoda held the ceremonies on different days and charged VND 300,000 for each family.

The superior monk, Thich Thanh Quyet, of Phuc Khanh Pagoda, said that this relationship between stars and fortune has been documented in many books about Asian culture, and is a long-held belief. “Many Vietnamese people believe in this, and attend the ceremonies for piece of mind for the year,” he said.

But according to Vu Duc Huynh, a researcher of Eastern Culture, the universe has more than these stars. “People would do better to pay attention to their acts throughout the year if they want to have ‘good luck’. These rituals are just a waste of time and money.”

On the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, residents of Thi Cam village, Xuan Phuong commune, Tu Liem district, Hanoi jubilantly celebrate the traditional rice cooking contest.

The festival commemorates Phan Tay Nhac. According to legend, he was the 18th General of the Hung Kings period, and organised contest of cooking rice to select the best cook to serve soldiers fighting wars. This is a unique custom of Thi Cam village every spring, a way to wish everyone a plentiful year and peace for their families.

The rice cooking contest include 3 contents: water bringing exam, fire building exam and rice cooking contest. The rice cooking contents include rice pounding, white rice choosing and rice cooking. Traditionally, there are four teams taking the test, each team of 10 people with their own costumes and colours, regardless of male or female: 4 people mill and pound the rice, one person screens the rice, one brings water, two people build fire with bamboo, and 2 cook the rice. Judges watch each stage over the total cooking time of about two hours.

The following is a list of some of the most typical snack foods that have become a part of winter in Hanoi.
1. Grilled corn

Cold winds of a winter nights come along with the scent of grilled corn, which brings out about a bit of warmth inside many Hanoians. Grilled corn stalls can be found almost anywhere on the sidewalk of Hanoi during the night.
2. Fried bread sticks

Fried bread sticks, another common food has also become popular for this time of year. Often it is served with a papaya dipping-sauce in winter, it is a favourite among students. There are several fried bread stick stalls in Hanoi, but some of the most well-known are those on Hang Bong, Duong Thanh and Hang Dau streets.
3. Boiled snails

Hanoi may not be able to compete with HCMC or Nha Trang in terms of the variety of snail dishes. However, bowls of boiled snails are best experienced on a cold winter night. The snails are eaten with a mixture of fish sauce, lime, chili, sugar and lemongrass.

Lately, Hang Bac Street is well-known for its bowls of boiled snails, even though their prices are a bit higher than other places.
4. Grilled Vietnamese sausages

The flavour of grilled sausages is a bit sweet, a bit sour and slightly spicy, especially with chili sauce. It is one of those dishes favoured by young people. It is often served with unripe mango and a small dish of pepper and salt.

Tet Festival is well-known for the long-lasting history and rich culture, Vietnam is the land of festivities and celebrations and Tao Quan Festival is considered one of the most essential festivals in Vietnamese religious beliefs.

 The story behind a tradition

The tradition of celebrating Tet Tao Quan comes from a popular fairy tale about “2 men and a woman”, who later would become the trio of Deities, or “Tao Quan”.
The story began with the couple of Trong Cao- the husband, and Thi Nhi- the wife. They had got married for such a long time but had not had any children yet, which made them very upset and quarrel with each other frequently. One day, Trong Cao was so angry at his wife that he casted her out. Thi Nhi left home, and after that married Pham Lang.

As time went by, Trong Cao realized his fault, and went out to find his beloved woman. He spent every single coin on his way and unwillingly became a beggar. He met Thi Nhi by chance at her new home. Cao’s explanation touched Thi Nhi and they talked for hours about the past and their current life.

As Pham Lang came home, Thi Nhi thought it would be awkward if the two men saw each other so she told Trong Cao to hide inside the stack of straw in the backyard. Pham Lang burnt the straw into ashes for fertilizing the field, accidentally cremated Trong Cao. The story had a tragic ending when Thi Nhi decided to jump into the fire to die with Trong Cao, and Pham Lang also killed himself after witnessing the death of his wife. However, when their souls flied to the Heavens, Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) conferred them with the title of ‘Tao Quan”: Pham Lang would be Deity of Kitchen, Trong Cao would be the Deity of Land and House, and Thi Nhi would be the Deity of Market. Together, they looked after the well-being of people’ house and property. Every year, on the 23rd day of December in Lunar New Year, they would travel up to the Heavens to give the annual report as well as pray for next year’s prosperity. They would come back to Earth on the New Year’s Eve, continuing their duties for the rest of the year.

And current practices

The meaning of Tet Tao Quan is all about preparing a grand farewell for three Deities on their journey to the Heavens, and the ceremony is held at every Vietnamese household. On the 23r day of December, normally, grandmothers and mothers of the family will cook a lot of delicacies such as new harvest steamed sticky rice or plain porridge. They clean and decorate the altar with fresh flowers and fruits. On the altar also laid three votive paper caps, the yellow one in the middle for Mrs. Tao and two black ones for two Mr. Tao.
Along with these preparations, a large bowl of water with one live large golden carp or three small ones is kept aside. The carps are all alive and will be freed into a pond, lake or river after the worshipping ceremonies are finished. Tao Quan can only travel up to the Heavens with the help of golden carps, as carp is used to be the Heavens’ animal and is a very good swimmer.
Freeing the carps is also to show human’s respect and gratitude towards animal worlds, and wishing for the good fortune of the upcoming year. Nowadays, the image of Tao Quan is so familiar that they even appear in many dramatics, movies or TV shows on the occasion of Tet Festival.

When the last leaves of autumn fall, when the thin mist of early morning fly on the Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. It is the time Hanoi enters winter.
For Hanoians, Hoan Kiem Lake has its own beauty every season. In the winter, when thick fog remains until 7-8am, there are pictures of poetic Hoan Kiem Lake.
In the mist, the bright red of The Huc Bridge, the green of the lake water even looks more striking.  Far away on the other side of the lake is the Hanoi Post Office with the big clock on its top.
In the early winter, leaves begin falling from the trees around the lake. The scene is somewhat mysterious as fog is still thick. Some red leaves of mangobarks and bang lang still remain.
After a stroll around the lake, sitting on a rock bench with friends to admire the lake is a moment of true peace because there are many evergreen trees are grown here, making Ho Guom a green lung of the city.
The alone moment at the lakeside helps you to be more reflective about life. When frost gradually thaws, you can see clearer landscape on the other side.

In Vietnam, “Banh Phu The” (conjugal cake) is a special cake, which symbolises the loyalty of a husband and wife…
The conjugal cake is normally served at Vietnamese weddings and used as a wedding invitation or taken by the man’s family to the woman’s family on engagement day.

The stickiness of the cake is said to signify the stickiness of the marriage ties. Traditionally, a guy would offer these to the girl he wants to marry. Now these cakes are still an essential part of a wedding banquet, or the gift packages that the groom’s family send over to the bride’s.

“Banh Phu The”  is a Vietnamese sweet with a jelly-like texture made of tapioca flour, pandan, mung bean paste, sugar, sesame seeds and coconut milk. It is very unique with a leaf covering that looks like a tiny square box, made from coconut leaves. The reason it is called Banh “Phu The” is because of how it is wrapped: a box on the top fits perfectly with the box on the bottom.

“Banh phu the” is more interesting in texture and flavor. In the real one, the cake has it green color and flavor by being steamed inside its box…

Source: Hanoitimes

As a foreigner coming to Hanoi for the first time, I have spent a day locating a bicycle shop and haggling about the price, but found it not easy to get one.

Visiting Vietnam, I was immediately entranced by my first bicycle ride around Vietnam; all the while sneering at the unsafe pollutants rushing past me. Bringing back my childhood I was popping wheelies around traffic in no time. After realising Hanoi provides you with a generally flat surface all round my mind was made up to getting my very own Vietnamese bicycle.

I was directed to Ba Trieu Street after tracking down a “xe om”. Upon arriving I was immediately disappointed. Perhaps this was naïve of me but I was expecting to see a bicycle shop.

In front of me appeared a few shops where I hoped to find a bicycle to match the countless others around this city which can peddle slow, like meditation, never in a rush.

However, I got all information I could to overcome language barrier in two or three shops displaying secondhand bicycles.

They are apparently refurbished Japanese and Taiwanese bicycles going by the general name “Bridgestone”, generally in blue or black. No gears. No shocks. No frills.

A choice could be made from Taiwanese bicycles with a light attached to the front and 6-speed gears costing VND2.65 million each.

Looking around the street you would find similar bikes all in this price range.

Finally, I happened to see electric bicycles in different shapes and sizes. I was really impressed by the perfect marriage of being eco-friendly and relaxing”. However, I found them far beyond my reach to pay somewhere between VND13.7 million and VND18.5 million for one.

Also for those interested in a more “hardcore” bicycle, there is a Giant dealership located on the same street. Check giantvietnam/vn for prices.

I alas did not find the peaceful cruiser I was searching for, my feet cursing my inability to compromise all the way home.

Then I heard of a place selling a lot more of secondhand bicycles, and decided to check out tomorrow. Will keep you posted.

Source: Adrian Solomon./ VOV

Western culture considers that eating a dog is not good, but there will be no problem with other sorts of animals, as long as they are not called pets. However, for the vast majority of people on Earth, cultural values are very different. Some strange foods are considered a delicacy in some Asian cultures including China, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Indeed, these food are very tasty and protein rich. May be you should try them some day if you are not vegetarian.

Dog meat is consumed in Vietnam to varying degrees of acceptability, though it predominantly exists in the North. It’s a winter food which believed to keep you extraordinarily warm on cold nights.  Dog meat is eaten in a variety of ways, from grilled, stuffed in spring rolls, stir fried, to added to soups. There are multiple dishes featuring dog meat, and they often include the head, feet as well as internal organs. Dog meat restaurants can be found throughout the country. If you are in Hanoi and you are eager to try this dish, please come to a restaurant on Nhat Tan Street – Tay Ho District. Typically, a chef will choose one of seven ways to cook dog, collectively known as “cầy tơ 7 món”. You can choose steamed dog meat, dog sausage, steamed dog in shrimp paste, ginger and rice vinegar, grilled dog meat, bamboo shoots and dog bone marrow or fried dog in lemon grass and chili. Here, you can see groups of customers who seated on mats spending their evenings on sharing plates of dog meat and drinking alcohol.

Dog meat is supposed to raise the libido and sometimes considered unsuitable for women. In other words, eating dog meat can serve as a male bonding exercise. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for women to eat dog meat. The consumption of dog meat can be part of a ritual life which usually occurring in the end of the lunar month for reasons of astrology and luck. Restaurants which mainly exist to serve dog meat may only open for the last half of the lunar month.
Snakes are a common novelty and relished food. You can drink the wine as well as eat the flesh on several occasions. When I visit one of my Vietnamese friends, he caught a cobra outside his front door and shared it with me on evening. Actually, there is very little meat on a cobra, so the skin is eaten as well. In the village of Le Mat, which famous for its snake restaurants, I tried snake meat in a number of ways, including in soup (both the taste and texture was like crab meat) and spring rolls (tastes like chicken). Furthermore, snake blood is supposed to be healthy with many benefits as well as a natural form of Viagra. So what is its taste like? I was surprised that tasting a fried meat actually a bit like custard. There is no fat and extremely lean and tender. After trying snake, you will surely be back for more.

Lizards and frogs (best grilled) are standard fare in Phan Thiet. Some of my friend said that he had never tried frog until he came to Vietnam, but now he like it a lot. If you ever order a frog dish in Vietnam, pay attention to the bones! During rainy season, Vietnamese people catch toads and boil them up. They merely cut out the stomach organ and eat the rest-skin, guts and all.
I watched my friends eating trung vit lon for many months before trying it myself. These fertilized duck eggs are allowed to partially develop and then, they are hard-boiled. Crack the top off, suck out the juice and then spoon out the colorful morsels with pinches of pickled carrots, garlic, radish, turnip, some mint leaves, and a dash of salt and pepper.

Experience had taught me that in Vietnam, food nearly always tastes better than it looks. When traveling, you always want to experience the culinary delights that you never see at home. Eating different and unusual food is a big part of what makes your holiday memorable…

This simple dish sold in country markets has become a favorite breakfast of many Hanoians. People can find this dish in small stands o­n any street in Hanoi. The stands are always crowed with diners. Hanoians can enjoy this dish at any time, at breakfast, lunch or post-lunch.

Although pyramidal rice dumpling is simple, it is very good and healthy, especially its appealing fragrance. This white and smooth dumpling is wrapped in green banana leaf, which is regarded as the quintessence of heaven and earth.

The pyramidal rice dumpling is made from a few ingredients including plain rice flour, minced lean meat, cat’s ear, onion and mushroom. The process of stirring and kneading flour is the most important, which decides the deliciousness of the dumpling. Processing the dumpling flour is a secret handed from generation to generation. Some famous makers of pyramidal rice dumpling said that they bought flour in Ha Dong District but still kept secret what kind of flour was. Therefore, it is not easy to make delicious rice dumplings.

After soaking in water, flour is dried, which is similar to the kind of “banh te” (rice cake). This flour is continously dissolved in water when being cooked. After 45 minutes, the flour turns pure white and viscid, which means it is well-cooked. Then the flour is placed o­n phrynium leaf and wrapped with meat. These rice dumplings are then put into the boiling water for 20 minutes. After that, pyramidal rice dumplings are picked up. People can feel the fragrance of the filling, rice flour and the special smell of phrynium or banana leaf. It is so great to serve this dish with sour vegetable pickles, which makes good taste; therefore, some people can eat two or three dumplings at a time.

Sitting in crowded stands, feeling hungry and enjoying this dish, you will find it a pleasure in life…