Arrived in Hanoi from the Philippines around midday, and we didn’t waste a moment, we headed straight out to explore.

But first … lunch of course. We had authentic Bánh Mì from a small spot right in front of our hotel. There was a bit of a queue, so we figured it had to be good. The meat was alright but the French Bread was extraordinarily yum.

Then we headed to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, just a short five-minute walk away.

And right there, framed by nature, in the middle of the city is the red bridge which quietly stretches across still waters.

There was so much to take in while walking…people quietly sitting, vibrant street art from the recent Chinese New Year (Year of the Fire Horse), bikers, tuktuks, and colourful fruit and vegetable vendors lining the streets.

One of the most exciting things we did was simply crossing the street. It may not sound like much, but in Hanoi, it’s a truly mind-blowing experience. And mind you, it was not easy. You have to gather your courage, take a deep breath, and just keep walking

I noticed a small gallery and we decided to step in. Inside, there was an exhibit of horses. Perfectly fitting, since I had already mentioned earlier what Zodiac year it is.

Just opposite is The Note Coffee and I instantly fell in love with it. It is literally a whole building with every wall, every corner, even the tables were covered in colourful sticky notes left by visitors from all over the world. I took my time reading a few with little messages of love, dreams, and memories. Then I added one of my own. It felt like leaving a tiny piece of myself behind. And mind you, their Egg Coffee is amazing!

We didn’t have a definite itinerary for the day, except for a booking at a Michelin-star restaurant for dinner. So we decided to just go with the flow and hired a tuktuk, complete with a friendly driver who made the ride even more enjoyable.

After the ride we went for a walk around town.

Loved seeing all the tiny alleyways.

Walked past varied doors of temples, restaurants and Vietnamese homes.

I also noticed so many tiny chairs along the streets. I honestly don’t know how people sit on them comfortably. Just to see how small they really were, I asked Jack to stand beside one for comparison. Surprisingly, these little stools are what people normally sit on, and they seem perfectly at ease.

It was only 6 pm and still very early for our 7 pm booking at Tam Vi Hanoi. But they were kind enough to squeeze us in (since maybe because it was just the two of us). Food was amazing. 3 big meals that we almost couldn’t finish plus drinks all for a total of A$28 …what a bargain!

So that was our first day in Hanoi…truly memorable.

I am linking this to Jo’s Monday Walk

Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge

and to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge