http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph MAY 2017 73
that your van will be running at probably just 40
kilometers per hour as they strictly follow this
speed limit all over the city.
If you prefer to visit the sites at your own pace, it
might turn out cheaper if you use Uber instead of
taking a taxi. In the old quarter, you can walk from
one site to the next while shopping for bits and
pieces that catch your eye.
Vietnamese embroidered products are especially
nice and not very expensive. Silk products are also
pretty cheap yet well made. If you’re into semi-
precious stones and crystals, stop at the many
small galleries that feature these items. A rose
quartz the size of a chicken egg costs only around
USD 25 here, a third of what you would pay for it
in a gem factory in Singapore.
If you plan to visit Dong Xuan market, you can buy
products cheaper by the dozen, but not as cheap
as Ben Thanh market in Saigon. And just like in
Ben Thanh, be prepared to sweat it out. The place
is not air-conditioned and packed to the hilt with
merchandise for sale. If you don’t want to dive into
the innards of the market, I still recommend you
drop by, for at the entrance of the market are food
vendors who sell peanuts, pistachios, and coffee
by the kilo. The dark brown Vietnamese peanuts
are super delicious, it’s like eating peanut butter;
and the pistachios have a milky flavor that is very
intriguing, and I don’t have to describe how great
French Roast Vietnamese coffee tastes like.
Hanoi is famous for its lacquerware. Ask your guide
to take you to one of the better galleries. At the
front of the store, you will see how the craftsmen
and women create these works of art. You will see
how it is done step-by-step. Then they will invite
you into the display area where you can buy a wide
array of lacquerware made with fine eggshells,
oyster mother-of-pearl, etc. The items range from
around USD 15 for a small box to a few hundred
dollars for large frames.Another Hanoi specialty are silk and embroidered
products. There is one particular street in the
Old Quarter that is filled with shops that sell
embroidered goods like napkins, placemats, table
cloths, cotton and linen clothing, bags, etc. Many
of these shops also sell silk products including
souvenir items such as travel pouches, coin purses,
and silk sleeping bags, and robes.If you book early enough, airline tickets to Hanoi
from Manila costs less than PHP 10,000 roundtrip
via Cebu Pacific, and that’s including travel tax.
What’s even better is that it’s a straight flight of only
four hours, instead of 8-12 hours if you take another
airline that stops in Bangkok, Singapore, or Saigon.If you go on a trip for three days two nights, I
suggest you take the day tour on the first day just to
familiarize yourself with the city, then go around on
your own the following day to do your shopping.
It is better to stay near the Old Quarter so you can
easily walk around.