Hanoi Street - VII

Location:  Hanoi Vietnam

Vietnam's capital races to make up for time lost to the ravages of war and a government that as recently as the 1990s kept the outside world at bay. Its streets surge with scooters vying for right of way amid the din of constantly blaring horns, and all around layers of history reveal periods of French and Chinese occupation – offering a glimpse into the resilience of ambitious, proud Hanoians. Negotiate a passage past the ubiquitous knock-off merchants and you’ll find the original streets of the Old Quarter. Defiant real-deal farmers hawk their wares, while city folk breakfast on noodles, practise t’ai chi at dawn on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake, or play chess with goateed grandfathers. Dine on the wild and wonderful at every corner, sample market wares, uncover an evolving arts scene, then sleep soundly in a little luxury for very little cost. Meet the people, delve into the past and witness the awakening of a Hanoi on the move.
[Excerpt from Lonely Plant]

I arrived in the early afternoon in Hanoi, and it was this passage I had read about Hanoi, that made me eager to wander the streets of Hanoi.  My hotel was in the old quarter of Hanoi and the sounds of the street beckoned  me.  Still groggy from the red-eye flight, The weather was overcast and the light fading and I didnt want to waste a moment, so I dumped my bags in the room, took to the streets.

This Image is part of the series of images "Hanoi Street", taken that afternoon.  That afternoon was an extraordinary and most wonderful experience and the start of a most memorable but short and limited journey through Vietnam.  I am in love with the country and in awe of the people.