CULTURE-SPORTS-TOURISM
Hanoi's crisp fall weather is perfect for outdoor strolls and sampling some of the local specialties.
If you’re considering where to go and what to do during your autumn visit to Hanoi, here are The Hanoi Times’ top suggestions
Try Xoi com or steamed green sticky rice
The dish of xoi com or young sticky rice with lotus seeds and coconut slices. Photo: Khoai Tay
A fragrant, chewy, and sweet gift from nature, xoi com is one of Hanoi's unique snacks, available only in the fall. During this season, tourists can find many vendors selling this specialty in baskets on sidewalks, street corners, and flea markets around the capital.
Hanoi's most popular and iconic type of com (green rice flakes) comes from Vong Village in Cau Giay District. Both com and xoi com (steamed green sticky rice) are usually wrapped in two layers of leaves. The inner layer is a fresh Asian taro leaf, which keeps the dish from drying out. Meanwhile, the outer layer is a lotus leaf, still slightly fragrant, bound with bright yellow sticky rice straw.
No visitor to the city in autumn should miss the opportunity to sit down and savor the rustic flavor in the cool, dry weather with gentle sunshine.
Breakfast in the Old Quarter
Eating pho bo, or traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup, at a sidewalk eatery is one of the most memorable experiences for visitors to Hanoi. Photo: Hen Duong
Heading to the Old Quarter and having breakfast with locals at small roadside stalls is a perfect way to start your city tour. Hanoi's street food is always highly acclaimed by local and foreign diners and has been awarded several times on global travel websites.
Every early morning in autumn, the atmosphere in the Old Quarter is distinctly calm and pleasant. That's why restaurants here are rarely empty at this time of year, especially those serving pho bo or beef noodle soup.
Some recommended pho eateries are Pho Thin Bo Ho, which is nearly 70 years old, Pho Suong on Trung Yen Alley, Pho Tu Lun on Au Trieu Street, Lam Pho Bo on Hang Vai Street, and Pho Ly Quoc Su.
In addition to Pho Bo, notable breakfast dishes include xoi or sticky rice of all kinds, pork rib congee, banh mi or Vietnamese sandwich, bun rieu or noodles with fresh crab, mien luon or rice noodles with eel, and many others.
Drink coffee on the sidewalk
Egg coffee and com or young sticky rice are among Hanoi's specialties. Photo: Ngoc Nguyen
Coffee, both sweet and bitter, is a perfect beverage for Hanoi's fall season. The main selling point of sidewalk cafes is their spacious settings, which allow customers to forget about the daily grind and lose themselves in the romantic atmosphere of autumn.
Most of the city's cafes are half-indoor, half-outdoor, with a few small chairs and tables in front. Of course, the most popular places to sit are near windows or on terraces - corners that are closest to the street, where you can sip coffee and watch the street life.
Often referred to as the "Quartet of Modern Hanoi," the classic names of Nhan, Nhi, Giang, and Dinh are often suggested by coffee lovers. Not only are these cafes well known, but their flavors also captivate patrons, not to mention the intriguing backstories of the coffee cups. In particular, the egg coffee served at Giang Cafe and Dinh Cafe is considered the capital's signature drink, winning over locals and visitors alike.
In addition, Hanoi's sidewalks are lined with coffee chains such as Cong Ca Phe, Aha Coffee, Highlands Coffee, and so on.
Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake
A peaceful autumn day in Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: Do Tra My
Hoan Kiem Lake is known as the heart of the capital. The area is also likened to its green lung, with more and more colors of flowers, leaves, and the lake surface every fall. Therefore, any trip to Hanoi would be incomplete without a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the nearby pedestrian streets to enjoy the fresh autumn weather.
Around Hoan Kiem Lake, visitors can find hundreds of trees belonging to a dozen or more species. Some have earned the unofficial title of "heritage trees" for their age and irreplaceable charm. To name just a few, the courtyard of Nhan Dan Newspaper's headquarters is home to the oldest tree in the area - and possibly the entire downtown area - a banyan tree that is over 300 years old!
Besides the “botanical garden”, Hoan Kiem Lake is surrounded by historical sites such as the Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple, Ba Kieu Temple, King Ly Thai To Statue, and King Le Thai To Statue.
The area is also where so many “lakeside artists” are based that it could be considered as “the largest hub of portrait sketching” in Vietnam. On weekends, the area's open-air stages feature well-known theatrical performances, puppet shows, and traditional music genres, namely Xam, Chau Van, Ca Tru, Cheo, and Cai Luong.
Visit St. Joseph Cathedral
While Ho Chi Minh City has the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Hanoi City has the St. Joseph Cathedral. In addition to its religious significance, this sight is also famous for being one of the most typical French-style buildings remaining in the city. The classical architecture here provides visitors with photogenic corners that can rival Western attractions.
The area is also celebrated for a number of lemon tea shops and fast food stalls. While you munch on grilled spring rolls, chicken congee, fried dumplings or pho, you can also listen to the pealing of the bell. Not bad for a romantic autumn experience!
Watch the sunset over West Lake
Sunset on the West Lake, Hanoi. Photo: Cao Anh Tuan
One of the most beautiful places to admire the sunrise and sunset in the city is West Lake, which has a vast space. In the cool breeze, watching the gentle waves and clouds gradually change color from bright yellow to deep orange will be an unforgettable memory.
The surrounding streets are lined with numerous lake-view cafes for visitors to choose from.
Another ideal option is Thanh Nien Road, a unique street sandwiched between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. It has been a rendezvous for generations of Hanoi youth and couples, with shrimp cakes, ice cream, and bo bia ngot or sweet popiah for sale on both sides.
The streets around the West Lake are about 15 kilometers long and are popular with sports lovers, especially joggers and cyclists. There are many bike rental shops along Nguyen Dinh Thi and Trich Sai Streets, with prices ranging from VND40,000-50,000 or about US$2 for two hours.
There are SUP and kayak rentals on the lake, ranging from VND200,000-VND250,000 ($8-$12) for two hours. You can also "dap vit" or pedal a duck-shaped boat on Truc Bach Lake for sunset over the West Lake. There are two types of pedal boats: large ones for families for VND200,000 ($8) per hour and small ones for two for VND100,000 or $4.
Breath in the scent of milk flower
Hanoi in autumn, the scent of Hoa Sua or Alstonia scholaris fills the air. Photo: Doan Bach
In addition to its picturesque sights, vibrant sounds, and addictive tastes, the capital also pulls visitors in with its smell - the scent of milk flowers in autumn. The seasonal specialty has been featured in popular songs such as "Nho Mua Thu Ha Noi" or "Missing Hanoi Autumn", "Ha Noi Mua Vang Nhung Con Mua" or "Hanoi in the Season Without Rain."
Around the city, romantic streets lined with milk flower trees include Nguyen Du, Quang Trung, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Dao Tan, Hoang Quoc Viet, Lac Long Quan, Quan Thanh, Thuy Khue streets, and others around the West Lake.
Visitors can choose from walking or cycling to riding a bicycle or double-decker bus. Breathing the fragrance in the late afternoon is something that will forever remind you of Hanoi in autumn.
(Source: Hanoitimes)