Oct. 24, 2019
This was the first picture I took in Vietnam. I was walking through the Old Quarter and saw this vendor taking a break. The moment screamed Vietnam, so I had to capture it.
Next month will mark the three-year anniversary of me saying, “Hello Hanoi!” It’s the first place I landed in Vietnam after my week in Korea.
I was there only a month while I looked for work, and I found a job just outside the city, a story for a later date. For now, I’ll tell you that Hanoi is very traditional. People are more conservative compared to the central and southern regions of Vietnam. It can be tough if you don’t look the part when looking for teaching work. But if you’re visiting, enjoy the food, the Old Quarter, and anything else interesting that you find. I know I did!
On the edge of the Old Quarter, people zoom by on their motorbikes and scooters. I quickly learned that crossing the street is like playing Frogger. And you’re the frog!
Bun cha is probably the signature dish of North Vietnam. It’s got grilled pork, pork patties, noodies and lettuce. I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant in the Old Quarter that made it best, but it’s been a while.
Every time I walked to the Old Quarter from my house, I crossed these train tracks. It’s so fascinating, how people live in houses right along them.