By Joshua H. Liberatore
Hanoi
Vietnam
Vietnam
Photo gallery
-
Cat Cat WaterfallPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Bicycle CargoPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Halong Bay Floating VillagePhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Halong Bay HarborPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Water PlazaPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Sapa Hill ViewPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Hanoi ArchitecturePhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore -
Scooter BonanzaPhoto By: Joshua H. Liberatore
One of the most dynamic and fascinating cities in Southeast Asia, Hanoi beckons travelers with its native bustle, excellent culinary scene, and cultural value as the hearthstone of modern Vietnam. First-time visitors will be immediately impressed by the boisterous commerce and incessant activity prevalent on Hanoi’s densely packed streets. Life in Hanoi starts incredibly early, with street vendors and shopkeepers setting up as early as five o’clock. Soon after, bicycle and automobile traffic clogs the main thoroughfares, with drivers honking their horns repeatedly – in the local custom – to indicate not frustration but merely their presence on the road. Soup stalls shovel out bowl after bowl of steaming noodles, garnished with fresh greens, bean sprouts, and lime wedges, to breakfast customers. Fresh baguette and first-rate espresso are available next door. In this juxtaposition of French and Chinese influences, Hanoi delights the open-minded omnivore at every turn.
Hanoi is laid out in a tight grid, with an attractive old city clustered around its picturesque Turtle Lake. The market district – alone worth hours of wandering – is organized by product, giving its streets names such as Flower Street and Pottery Street. Even if you aren’t actively seeking a purchase, EscapeWizard.com's strong recommendation is to explore these streets and just absorb the unmatched entrepreneurial intensity on display. You’ll see remarkably large cargo – huge plates of glass, medium-sized appliances, tall racks of eggs – carried by motor scooter. Vendors will be engaged in the time-honored clamor of careful price negotiation and shrewd barter. No other city in the region commands such singular focus on trade, which will surprise some Westerners harboring stereotypes of socialist central planning and government-owned enterprise.
Hanoi is host to many fine hotels and family-run guesthouses. Book rooms directly through EscapeWizard's hotel search tool (www.escapewizard.com/hotels.php?flag=htl). Many accommodations include breakfast, offering either authentic local fare or international options (typically eggs and toast), both served with excellent strong coffee.
According to EscapeWizard.com, at least one day in Hanoi should be spent wandering the historic market district, enjoying the sprawling public park that encloses Turtle Lake, and sampling various street food options, from classic beef pho – rice noodles in rich broth, served with various garnishes – or fresh bun, which is a similar arrangement of noodles, meat, and fresh vegetables, but without the broth. The Vietnamese have adopted the French baguette with great profit, serving up sandwiches that combine local cured meats, grilled beef or chicken, with fresh cucumbers and cilantro, jalapeno peppers, and a light dressing of fish sauce or sweet syrup. The result is delicious, and you can snack on these for the equivalent of a quarter or so all over Hanoi. Another food favorite, which, like many Vietnamese dishes, is a Chinese borrowing, is hot pot. Alight at one of Hanoi’s many hot pot joints and choose your protein, usually thinly sliced steak or seafood, and let your server show you the ropes. Vegetables and mushrooms will be added to your personal pot of boiling stock, while fresh ingredients can be dipped and flash cooked for immediate consumption. As always, fragrant white rice and mounds of fresh greens accompany the entrée.
Hanoi runs a famous water puppet theater, which warrants a visit. You can purchase tickets during the day for evening performances (they sell out regularly, so plan ahead) and take in a historical or folk narrative, usually of agrarian theme. EscapeWizard.com suggests the entertainment as truly one of a kind, and set designers and technicians are at pains to conceal the operational secrets of their dancing figures strutting around in three feet of water. The theater is darkened to enhance the effect, and photography is prohibited. Master puppeteers endure years of training to perfect the craft. Puppets are operated by long poles with elaborate controls and their masters stand in water for the length of the performance. A show is not to be missed.
Hanoi figures as an excellent base camp for regional excursions in Vietnam’s visually stunning north. EscapeWizard.com notes that the hill-tribe oasis Sapa requires a longish night-train ride from Hanoi, but rewards visitors with breathtaking views of the terrace agriculture that surrounds the sleepy town as well excellent local hotels and charming hospitality. Sapa’s Red Dzao women merchants are among the most aggressive salespeople you will ever encounter. Bargain low with them at your peril. Sapa's winding streets feature excellent cafes, food establishments, and craft shops for the browsing. Another destination recommended by EscapeWizard.com is the world-famous Halong Bay, a section of the South China Sea studded with huge limestone karst formations. You can arrange a two-night “cruise” on a modified Chinese-style junk, all inclusive of transportation, meals, and activities, in downtown Hanoi.
Hanoi is served by Hanoi Airport Vietnam (HAN), routing flights through regional capitals and major cities the world over. From the airport, taxis are easy to arrange, but price haggling can be vicious, so a prearranged pickup through your Hanoi hotel is the recommended route. Visit EscapeWizard.com (www.escapewizard.com/flight.php) to book your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, today.
Hanoi is laid out in a tight grid, with an attractive old city clustered around its picturesque Turtle Lake. The market district – alone worth hours of wandering – is organized by product, giving its streets names such as Flower Street and Pottery Street. Even if you aren’t actively seeking a purchase, EscapeWizard.com's strong recommendation is to explore these streets and just absorb the unmatched entrepreneurial intensity on display. You’ll see remarkably large cargo – huge plates of glass, medium-sized appliances, tall racks of eggs – carried by motor scooter. Vendors will be engaged in the time-honored clamor of careful price negotiation and shrewd barter. No other city in the region commands such singular focus on trade, which will surprise some Westerners harboring stereotypes of socialist central planning and government-owned enterprise.
Hanoi is host to many fine hotels and family-run guesthouses. Book rooms directly through EscapeWizard's hotel search tool (www.escapewizard.com/hotels.php?flag=htl). Many accommodations include breakfast, offering either authentic local fare or international options (typically eggs and toast), both served with excellent strong coffee.
According to EscapeWizard.com, at least one day in Hanoi should be spent wandering the historic market district, enjoying the sprawling public park that encloses Turtle Lake, and sampling various street food options, from classic beef pho – rice noodles in rich broth, served with various garnishes – or fresh bun, which is a similar arrangement of noodles, meat, and fresh vegetables, but without the broth. The Vietnamese have adopted the French baguette with great profit, serving up sandwiches that combine local cured meats, grilled beef or chicken, with fresh cucumbers and cilantro, jalapeno peppers, and a light dressing of fish sauce or sweet syrup. The result is delicious, and you can snack on these for the equivalent of a quarter or so all over Hanoi. Another food favorite, which, like many Vietnamese dishes, is a Chinese borrowing, is hot pot. Alight at one of Hanoi’s many hot pot joints and choose your protein, usually thinly sliced steak or seafood, and let your server show you the ropes. Vegetables and mushrooms will be added to your personal pot of boiling stock, while fresh ingredients can be dipped and flash cooked for immediate consumption. As always, fragrant white rice and mounds of fresh greens accompany the entrée.
Hanoi runs a famous water puppet theater, which warrants a visit. You can purchase tickets during the day for evening performances (they sell out regularly, so plan ahead) and take in a historical or folk narrative, usually of agrarian theme. EscapeWizard.com suggests the entertainment as truly one of a kind, and set designers and technicians are at pains to conceal the operational secrets of their dancing figures strutting around in three feet of water. The theater is darkened to enhance the effect, and photography is prohibited. Master puppeteers endure years of training to perfect the craft. Puppets are operated by long poles with elaborate controls and their masters stand in water for the length of the performance. A show is not to be missed.
Hanoi figures as an excellent base camp for regional excursions in Vietnam’s visually stunning north. EscapeWizard.com notes that the hill-tribe oasis Sapa requires a longish night-train ride from Hanoi, but rewards visitors with breathtaking views of the terrace agriculture that surrounds the sleepy town as well excellent local hotels and charming hospitality. Sapa’s Red Dzao women merchants are among the most aggressive salespeople you will ever encounter. Bargain low with them at your peril. Sapa's winding streets feature excellent cafes, food establishments, and craft shops for the browsing. Another destination recommended by EscapeWizard.com is the world-famous Halong Bay, a section of the South China Sea studded with huge limestone karst formations. You can arrange a two-night “cruise” on a modified Chinese-style junk, all inclusive of transportation, meals, and activities, in downtown Hanoi.
Hanoi is served by Hanoi Airport Vietnam (HAN), routing flights through regional capitals and major cities the world over. From the airport, taxis are easy to arrange, but price haggling can be vicious, so a prearranged pickup through your Hanoi hotel is the recommended route. Visit EscapeWizard.com (www.escapewizard.com/flight.php) to book your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, today.
Hotels in Hanoi
By D. Gregory Perrin
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam
1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam
Photo gallery
-
ExteriorPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Westlake Meeting RoomPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Sunset BarPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Private Dining RoomPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Milan Saigon BarPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Club InterContinentalPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
BuffetPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group -
Café du LacPhoto By: IHG Hotel Group
The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is an outstanding in the city that offers an entire slue of services for travelers. The hotel is located minutes from downtown Hanoi but out of the city enough that allows for supreme relaxation. There are 359 guest rooms as well as 36 suites, that travelers can check-in to at 2 p.m. or after on the day of arrival into the city.
The rooms have all the features of any modern hotel. Guests can select from a variety of bedding options based on the size of their party. Each room has color television with cable channels, DVD players, and videos can be rented. There is high speed internet for a small fee per night so guests can stay connected to their emails, etc. The hotel provides an in-room safe that is large enough to hold your laptop while sightseeing in the city. Other features of the rooms include, microwave, miniature refrigerator, mini bar and others.
The InterContinental has an amazing fitness center to help promote a healthy lifestyle for all of the guests. They have cardiovascular equipment as well as free weights for strength training. The hotel also offers Yoga, Taichi, Pilatte, and other aerobic classes available to help give guests a variety of options. After a good work out, vacationers can take a swim in the outdoor pool, or head to the spa for a steam bath. Business travelers can utilize the business center that is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., here they can access computers, print, fax, rent mobile phones, and more.
Travelers have various options to eat in the hotel. There are 3 restaurants available. First, the Saigon Restaurant on the first floor and is open for both lunch and dinner. Here they serve Vietnamese cuisine and other Asian dishes. Second, the Café du Lac offers French cuisine and is open for all three meals of the day. Lastly, the Milan Restaurant offers Italian delicacies and is only open for dinner.
The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is just the right hotel for you on your next vacation in South East Asia. EscapeWizard.com invites you to book your hotel experience by following this link (www.escapewizard.com/hotels.php?flag=htl).
The rooms have all the features of any modern hotel. Guests can select from a variety of bedding options based on the size of their party. Each room has color television with cable channels, DVD players, and videos can be rented. There is high speed internet for a small fee per night so guests can stay connected to their emails, etc. The hotel provides an in-room safe that is large enough to hold your laptop while sightseeing in the city. Other features of the rooms include, microwave, miniature refrigerator, mini bar and others.
The InterContinental has an amazing fitness center to help promote a healthy lifestyle for all of the guests. They have cardiovascular equipment as well as free weights for strength training. The hotel also offers Yoga, Taichi, Pilatte, and other aerobic classes available to help give guests a variety of options. After a good work out, vacationers can take a swim in the outdoor pool, or head to the spa for a steam bath. Business travelers can utilize the business center that is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., here they can access computers, print, fax, rent mobile phones, and more.
Travelers have various options to eat in the hotel. There are 3 restaurants available. First, the Saigon Restaurant on the first floor and is open for both lunch and dinner. Here they serve Vietnamese cuisine and other Asian dishes. Second, the Café du Lac offers French cuisine and is open for all three meals of the day. Lastly, the Milan Restaurant offers Italian delicacies and is only open for dinner.
The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is just the right hotel for you on your next vacation in South East Asia. EscapeWizard.com invites you to book your hotel experience by following this link (www.escapewizard.com/hotels.php?flag=htl).