Hanoi in 8 Hours
Bun Cha Huang Lien
Since we had been travelling all day, our first stop was for a bite to eat. In the past, we have followed Anthony Bourdainโs lead when it comes to eating in Vietnam. He recommended several places in Hoi An that didnโt disappoint, so we were eager to try out Bun Cha Huang Lien. This iconic spot is where President Obama met up with Bourdain to try their bun cha. Bun cha is Hanoiโs signature dish, which consists of fatty fried pork on vermicelli. We ordered the โObama Comboโ, with the bun cha, a fried seafood roll called nem hai san, and a Hanoi beer. This is right up my alley, so I knew I was going to love it.
The pork was super tender and delicious, with flavor exploding on my tongue. I love vermicelli noodles, and the tangy sauce and herbal taste worked perfectly to create a symphony in my mouth. I was shocked at how crispy the seafood roll was, the slightly greasy roll paired perfectly with the pork and noodles. Itโs a pretty heavy meal, so washing it down with the Hanoi beer was a perfect combo. I have always loved Vietnamese food, and this did not disappoint. I wish we had more time to explore the cuisine in Hanoi, but Iโm glad we chose Bun Cha Huang Lien as our main meal.
Temple of Literature
Next, we hurried over to one of Hanoiโs largest attractions, the Temple of Literature. Originally built in the 1000s. This ancient temple was the first national university in the country, and was the center of Confucian teaching for hundreds of years. The story and vibe of the temple really reminded me of the Confucian Temple in Tainan, Taiwan. The temple is located in the heart of the city, making it easy to find. Hanoi isnโt a city with lots of massive attractions, so we knew we were in the right place when we saw crowds of tourists at the gate. At this point, it was incredibly hot, but thankfully the grounds of the temple are well shaded.
As we entered, we realized how beautiful and ancient the area feels. Rather than being a massive, extravagant temple like weโve seen elsewhere in Asia, it is more like a garden with simple and elegant structures. The Temple of Literature is laid out in a series of courtyards, each with a unique combination of buildings, ponds, and gardens. At the end of the temple is an altar area, with shrines and incense burning. Although the grounds arenโt large, you could spend 1-2 hours roaming and taking pictures.
Black Market Coffee
Our next stop had to be coffee. Yemisi knows I love the best coffee, and she always finds the most delicious shops. Black Market Coffee is an unassuming building tucked in an alley in the middle of the city. As we were walking towards the shop, I noticed how many nice-looking shops there were; Hanoi is a coffee lover’s paradise. At first, it was hard to find the shop since it is hidden in a dilapidated tunnel behind an abandoned lot. Walking in felt like discovering buried treasure, as we walked through the tunnel and found the absolute cutest building.
We overheard a customer say it used to be a tapas bar, which makes sense with the plaster walls and tiled floors. The aesthetic wasnโt so much a black market, but rather a chill west coast taco joint. I had to get a pour over of course, but since it was so hot I decided to get it iced. I never drink iced coffee because I donโt think it tastes as good, but I had a lot of faith. Thankfully, Black Market pulled through, and it was one of the best ice pour overs Iโve had in years. Yemisi got the Dream Jasmine, a jasmine tea with apricot and strawberry jam. A fruity cold drink was perfect for such a hot day. Black Market really got the vibe down, and it was a great choice for cooling off and hanging out.
St. Joseph Cathedral
Next on our list was St. Joseph Cathedral. When I first came to Vietnam, I was surprised by how many catholic churches there are. I knew that colonial France introduced the church during French Indochina, but I had always assumed Vietnam was a religion-free state because it is communist. Getting to see countries for yourself is a great way of breaking misconceptions and stereotypes.ย Itโs yet another example of why Iโm grateful to be able to travel. Although the country is largely non-religious, there is still a sizeable catholic minority in Vietnam.
This particular cathedral was built in 1886, making it the oldest church in Hanoi. Since it is still an active church, we werenโt allowed inside as they were holding mass when we visited. Regardless, itโs a very beautiful to see from the outside. The area surrounding the cathedral is full of boutiques, restaurants, and bars, making it a perfect place to burn time. We even spent a few minutes taking pictures on a nearby street, because Hanoi is just that beautiful.
Hanoi Train Street
If youโve seen one attraction from Hanoi, it was definitely the famous train street. The railway that runs through the city has cafes and bars lining the tracks, leading to the most incredible view as the train comes barreling through mere inches from your face. I wasnโt sure if it was going to be as extreme as it seemed on social media, but it turns out itโs even more incredible in person. For blocks, the train track sits only a few feet away from the chairs of the restaurants. Most of them have an upper floor with a railing if you donโt feel safe with a train whizzing by your face, but most of the seats on the ground floor are completely unprotected.
The train only comes a few times a day, so itโs good to make sure youโre there during the time when it comes. For each time it arrives, it also departs, so youโll be able to see it twice. It doesnโt really matter which bar or cafe you go to, they all have similar options and are affordable. Letโs be honest, youโre just there for the train. To be honest, I wasnโt prepared for how intense it was. The train pushes a breeze through the alley, and the rumble and roar of it can be felt before it comes around the corner. It didnโt disappoint, and a visit to Hanoi wouldnโt be complete without seeing the train street.
Old City Gate
Before we left, we wanted to see one more iconic landmark of Hanoi. The old city gate, named ร Quan Chฦฐแปng, is one of the entrances into the old quarter. Constructed in 1759, it is the last of the stone gates standing. Historically, this gate was used as a chokepoint for merchants coming in and out of the city. Now, it sits alone as a relic of Hanoiโs culture, surrounded by new buildings and shops. Itโs not a large area, and there isnโt much to see here. But it was a great place to say goodbye to Hanoi, as we symbolically walked out of the city through the gate.
Final Thoughts
I wish we had more time to explore Hanoi. The beauty and history of the city really felt like nowhere else. Sometimes, cities in Southeast Asia tend to blend together, but Hanoi really feels special. I hope we can come back one day and give it the time that it deserves, but until then, Iโm glad we had an 8 hour layover in Hanoi.
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