21 December, Hanoi
Old Quarter Cyclo Hotel
255,000VND
Hanoi, founded just over 1,000 years ago in the
upper reaches of the Red River delta, is a city of around seven million. To
commemorate the millennial anniversary, a 4km long mosaic mural was added to
the city’s dyke system east of the Old Quarter. The mosaic, depicting design
styles from throughout Vietnam’s history, as well as children’s drawings and
the works of known artists, holds the Guinness world record for longest ceramic
mosaic. After walking a section of the dyke we stumbled by happy accident on a
street market dedicated to Xmas where we were delighted by Santas dressed in
mauve and green, red Chinese lanterns and silver bells, snowy Xmas trees and
gold tinsel. Two-wheel traffic far outnumbers four in Hanoi. Intersections in the
Old Quarter are often devoid of traffic lights, stop signs and road markings. At
busy intersections drivers slow to a semistop, then creep forward, poking their
noses into the oncoming traffic, until several vehicles and bikes have
congregated and are waiting to cross. At some unexplained point, critical mass
is achieved and the oncoming traffic slows so that the creeping traffic can cross.
The process is fluid, a wonder to behold, and completely befuddling to the
uninitiated.
Hanoi mosaic
Hanoi mosaic
Hanoi mosaic
Hanoi mosaic
Hanoi mosaic
Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi Xmas market
Hanoi Xmas market
Hanoi Xmas market
Hanoi Xmas market
Hanoi Xmas market