Gadgets Philippines – May 2017

72 MAY 2017 http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

It has to be said that most tourists go to Vietnam

to shop and visit iconic spots on the side.

Hanoi is one of two cities most visited by

tourists in Vietnam, the other being Ho Chi

Minh City better known to the rest of the

world as Saigon.

Words and Photos by Presy Alba

TRAVEL

If your main purpose in visiting Vietnam is to do

lots of shopping for cheap knock-off or factory

overruns of designer clothing and accessories, and

see remnants of the Vietnam-American war then

go to Saigon. But if you are interested in learning

about the ancient history and culture of Vietnam

mixed with shopping for silks, embroidery, coffee,

and more, Hanoi is the place for you.

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is where the

seat of government is located. The city is full of

French-inspired architecture and is considered the

cultural heart of Vietnam. In some parts of the old

quarter, if not for the Vietnamese characters on

the stores’ signages, you would think you were in

the Opera or Grand Boulevard district of Paris.

A day tour of the cultural sites around the Old

Quarter costs around USD 25 to 30 per person.

This includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel,

an air-conditioned shared coach for a maximum

of 12 passengers, a set menu lunch (excluding

drinks), and an English-speaking tour guide.

The eight-hour tour will take you to see the very

ancient Temple of Knowledge, the Old Quarter

including a visit to St. Joseph Cathedral, the

Catholic Cathedral of Hanoi, the birth and burial

place of their national hero, Ho Chi Minh, a

lacquerware factory, silk and embroidery house,

and even Dong Xuan market.

Just remember that if you want to see more

sites, you have to spend less time at each stop.

Additionally, you have to take into consideration