From Italy they came, Lenka and her dear, to explore the heart of Hanoi, full of cheer.

Hanoi, January, 8th, 2025

From Italy they came, Lenka and her dear

To explore the heart of Hanoi, full of cheer.

Today, we are excited to welcome Lenka and her husband from Italy to our Hanoi Hopping - 3 hour walking city tour! 🌟

Both Vietnam travel experiences and Hanoi’s vibrant charm are completely new to them. That’s why when they went to exchange money with Cream, they were shocked by how many zeros the Vietnamese bills had! Lenka jokingly said, “Seems like we’ve become millionaires now!” - those adorable moments of surprise are what make cultural exploration in Vietnam so exciting!

Let’s see where Cream will take Lenka and her husband, and what hidden gems of Hanoi they’ll uncover!

Vietnamese local markets aren’t just for shopping – they’re where connections are made. 🌟 Full of life, with people happily coming and going, buying and selling, chatting and catching up on life. 🛍️ And of course, where there’s excitement, we’re never far behind! 😄The smiles of our couple are even fresher than the veggies! 😂

Lenka is checking out the goods just like a local, no different at all! 😄🛍️

Walking through the market, our couple stumbled upon a motorbike carrying pork – couldn’t get any more unexpected! And that’s how this photo was born! 😄📸

And when you’re at the market, trying fresh Vietnamese fruits is a must, right? And this is Vietnamese jujubes (yep, those two little green apples in the photo! 🍏) These jujube are common across Vietnam, often found in every village, and sometimes even growing wild in the countryside! Can you guess what they might taste like? 😋

Lenka and her husband have stepped into a l00-year-old Vietnamese house!! 🏠 Amidst the stunning traditional architecture, there are also familiar items you'd still find in modern Vietnamese homes, like this statue of the 3 Gods. Can you guess which one represents Happiness, Prosperity, and Longevity? Lenka and her husband guessed them all correctly! 😄✨

A corner of the house's courtyard. 🌿

The couple is sitting on the second-floor balcony, a space where the family of the past would unwind, sipping tea and enjoying a game of chess. 🍵♟️

And here’s something you can’t miss when visiting: trying to turn the rice mill! It’s heavy, but no match for Lenka’s husband – he made it look so easy! 💪🌾

Our couple then sipped on some refreshing Vietnamese fruit juice, relaxing at a café with a perfect view of the busy intersection, taking in the full scene around them. 🚗🌆

After recharging, we headed to Bạch Mã Temple, where the name "Bạch Mã" (White Horse) is tied to a fascinating story. Our couple was both surprised and delighted to hear it! 😲🏯

A sweet treat of Vietnamese donut, and Lenka and her husband absolutely LOVED it, calling it incredibly delicious! 😋🍩 No wonder, the locals are crazy about it too!

Finally, they visited Quan Đế Temple, dedicated to Quan Vũ, the legendary Chinese commander. Business owners often come here to pray for smooth ventures. Adorned with gorgeous lanterns, it’s also a favorite photo spot for young people in traditional áo dài dresses. Lenka and her husband were amazed to learn how locals love taking New Year photos in áo dài! 📸🎎

Ending the trip with a perfect glass of lemon tea by the church – that’s how you do Hanoi the local way! 🍋☕

Check out our Hanoi Hopping tour details by following this link!

Ngoc Anh (Ice)

Beyond Vietnam