It was my first chance to do an extra-long walkabout since arriving in Vietnam. It totaled 16km doing a circuit of the two major lakes in Ha Noi, with various pitstops at a few interesting-looking places. The gates to all the temples and pagodas were locked up tight though. I suppose the gods and holy men also need a break every once in a while.
It was National Day and a big day out for the locals! The Vietnamese celebrate 19 public holidays this year. (South Africans get 14). There were busloads of people and heavy foot and wheeled traffic. I realised that I often pretend I’m chewing gum when I cross the street – perhaps to look more confident!
Ice-cream seemed to be a big hit, but what was more interesting was all the young women dressed like bridesmaids. Loads of them! There were flower carts everywhere and each of the girls were taking turns to get photographed holding a bouquet. Some were even in long white bridesmaids dresses. It was 37 degrees C. I just hoped that my sunscreen had enough factors! Was this also Dream to be a Bride Day?
What I did learn from the YouTubes, is that PDAs (public displays of affection) are not commonly seen among couples. However, it is very common to see girls holding hands as a sign of affection. Some also wear matching outfits. I noticed a couple of grannies walking arm-in-arm too. It’s all very sweet to see.
A lot of the men were fishing in the lake. This is the same lake with all the dead fish floating belly-up! I made a mental not to not have anything with polluted fish on the menu. I also saw a man exit a building with a bag of small fish, which he poured into the lake. They clearly work to keep it well-stocked.
The buildings are quite interesting to gaze at. It’s common to see tall residential buildings side-by-side that each have different architectural styles. One could be French and the neighbouring one Victorian. There are also several American-style bars proudly advertising Budweiser as the best beer in the world. I’m sorry to inform them that Bud is shit compared to South African Brewery standards.
Compared to Thailand, if you substitute massage parlors with coffee shops, that’s Vietnam. Moon and Sun Coffee appear to be a chain of cafes, but many others are totally unique. For convenience stores, there doesn’t seem to be any consistency at all. They all have different names, are tiny, and packed to the brim with a seemingly random assortment of things.
I found a quiet spot to cool off and enjoy a beer by the less fragranty part of the lake. Two American gents and a local woman were seated nearby. Their conversation involved cultural comparisons. I’m sure that this might be a private tour guide service. There must be a website for that, but it’s probably not cheap. I would love the opportunity to converse with a local. I have SO many questions!
I’m finding Vietnam to be a bit lonely as a solo traveler. It’s such a social society and it’s very hard to strike up conversation. Either there is the language barrier, or tourists are in pairs or groups. But there is much on the list to see and do, which will be enjoyed! I move closer to the main attractions soon for a full week. There I will be able to use the weekday mornings to explore.
Next: Vietnam #6 – Peacock-Chickens
Previously: Vietnam #4 – What The Pho
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