During the 3rd day of my Hanoi trip, we checked in at the beautiful InterContinental Hanoi Westlake and took a stroll to explore the surrounding area. 

The first place which we checked out was Tran Quoc Pagoda. The 1469-year-old Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest temple in Hanoi City which was built in the 6th century. 

It is located at the southern end of the Hanoi Westlake. It features multiple shrines from the main entrance which is accessed via a footpath linking the islet from mainland Hanoi. There are the famous Pagoda and the main temple for devotees to pray and offer incense, not forgetting the tall bodhi tree which is a cutting from the original tree in India where Budddha sat and attained enlightenment in India.

Next, we head out to Quan Thanh Temple, a Taoist temple that is close to a thousand-year-old.

As we ventured nearer to the northern part of Hanoi Old City, markets and road-side stalls are a more common sight with street peddlers selling everything from raw food such as vegetables and meat, souvenirs, sweets and candies, kitchenware, seasoning, sauces, cooked food such as pho, banh mi and other traditional Vietnamese food.

For those who prefer a more organized and hygenic shopping environment would need to vist the Dong Xuan Market which is the biggest indoor market in Hanoi that sells basically everything. The market has 3 levels with the ground level consisting of many bags shops and the other side functioning as a wet market.

The second and third floor consist of wholesale trading and many different items such as clothes, fabrics, cloth and more.

Do visit the market at night during the weekend (Friday to Sunday) and the street at the front would be converted into a night market with street food and makeshift souvenier stalls too! 

Day 3 @ Hanoi City

Hanoi, Vietnam