The Craziness of Hanoi - Dear Luna

Dear Luna, 

Hanoi is on another level of craziness. Although this city has many hidden gems with temples that are scattered around, it is one hundred and ten percent chaotic here. Think about the busiest city you've ever been to --- London, Amsterdam, New York to name a few --- now times it by infinity and that is the streets of Hanoi. In some ways, it reminds me of Italy, where you just walk across the street and hope for the best, but the fear of being hit seems a lot higher. The streets here are filled with scooters and cars, I have never seen as many scooters as I have now. Amsterdam might be the city of bikes, but Hanoi is definitely the city of scooters. 

However, even though this city is rather crazy, there is a charm to it and it is due to how busy it is. Life is always thriving here, people are moving and living their life to the fullest even though I am sure many people from western countries will look down on the citizens who live here. To me, Europe and America have always seen themselves on a higher platform, especially the countries where English is their first language. They enjoy believing that they are thriving and have the best way of living, and sure Hanoi is crazy, and living here might not be the best, but the love the people have for one another is something very rare to see. 

I am grateful to be able to have this opportunity to visit Hanoi, to check out all of the temples which they have kept up. Even to this day, there are many sacrifices of food and water from the people of Vietnam to be given long life, love, and wealth. There is a beauty that comes with all of this as it is rather rare to see in the western world. Also, the many museums which they had that showed how life was and still is due to the effect of the Vietnam war and how women played a role, is something I always enjoy seeing. 

Alas, my time in Hanoi, Vietnam has come to an end, and I am currently writing this Dear Luna at the desk in my hotel in Laos. As I've mentioned, I am so happy that I had a chance to visit this country as it has always been on my list ever since my first boyfriend visited and he bought me a hand-painted jewelry box --- one which I still have now. Yet, saying all of this, if I would come back to Hanoi, I wouldn't stay for a week, I would most likely stay tops three days. We stayed in Hanoi's old quarters, and the past life of this city is seen through the buildings and there is some sort of charm that comes with that. Yet, the chaos was on another level and one which sometimes was slightly too much for me. On top of that, we had a little visitor in our apartment, you guessed it, a mouse. 

The horror that came with this tiny creator makes it seem as if we were attacked by a bull, but no, this mouse, which was more scared of us made me stay up for three nights in a roll. I know why there was a mouse, the pipes for our flat had holes big enough that you could see light coming from outside, and with the food that was being cooked everywhere along the street, it came as no surprise that mice would live near. 

If you are thinking about visiting Hanoi, do not be put off by the mouse incident, sure, it forced me to stand on the bed as my cousin stood on the sofa as we face-timed her mum, but being able to experience street food and life like you never have before is something you should really do. And if you have interests in temples and legends which created societies, then visiting Hanoi should one hundred percent be on your bucket list.  

Click here to check my recent blog about Ha Long Bay

Until next time, Luna ❤️❤️❤️