After spending 23 nights in Laos it was time to move on to Vietnam. Since we were in Northern Laos, it only made sense to hop on over to Hanoi, in the north of Vietnam, and take a month to work our way south. We had the option of the 26-hour bus ride over the mountains from Vientiane Laos to Hanoi Vietnam, or for $75 each we could take the 1-hour flight. No need to do the math or make any justifications on this one. Vietnam Airlines, here we come!
Arriving in Hanoi, Vietnam
We arrived in Hanoi after 9pm and our hostel arranged to have a car pick us up. Oh that was nice arriving into a new city and seeing your name on a sign. He already knew where we needed to go, so no need for the charades and pointing at the smart phone to try to communicate where we wanted to go. By the time we made it to our hostel, in the old quarter of the city, it was well after 10pm. It was dark and the streets had a little traffic. We ran across the street to buy some snacks for dinner and off to bed we went. The next morning was quite a different experience.
We woke up to the buzz of city traffic and a 7:30 loud-speaker with announcements, followed by a song (perhaps the National Anthem?). Alan and the kids were still sound asleep, but I just couldn’t resist going outside to check it all out. I got dressed and headed outside, only to find Gma Bev doing the exact same thing. There she was on the sidewalk video taping the traffic.
We both laughed and realized we would never be able to cross the street. We would be stuck on our little island (block) forever! We walked to each end of our block and around and were amazed with all of the traffic and the vast number of bikes and scooters. What fascinated me most was what they were all scooting around Hanoi.
During our 5 days in Hanoi, I just couldn’t resist capturing a few photos of the things transported via bikes and scooters. On many street corners you will find people with a scooter for hire. They can taxi you or your things to your destination, so think of it as a bike messenger, delivery man or taxi. But don’t miss out on buying goods from people scooting around in bicycles too. They have it all in Hanoi! I have put together this photo essay so you can see what’s scooting around Hanoi, Vietnam.
These ladies need a package delivered.
Photo Essay: See What’s Scooting Around Hanoi, Vietnam
Look at the guy in the middle. Both he and his scooter are completely covered with packages.
I am not sure if the guy with barrels is the garbage man or what, but check out what they are scooting around in the back! Some furniture?
I am sure that would be comfy to lean against, but in this stop and go traffic, I’m sure it isn’t easy to balance.
I love the flowers just crossing the road, you can barely see that someone is riding the bike. Not to mention the load behind the flowers. How do they navigate?
Many of the stores receive their supplies and deliveries via scooter too.
Take time to stop and smell the flowers!
Need diapers or toilet paper? Not to worry, the store comes to you! Yep, you can buy your toiletries in drive by mode.
The water man! I wonder how many return trips he needs to make to reload his deliveries?
I really want to know what’s in that green box!
If you need any ceramic dishes or tea pots, just look for this bicycle riding by.
I am not sure how this guy can navigate the roads. He was just about to enter the highway, which we crossed on foot, just after this photo was taken. Yikes!
Don’t forget, you can buy all of your produce out on the streets too. It is kind of nice having things come to you, but when you are looking for them they aren’t always around.
Gma Bev chatting with Rose. She sells souvenirs from her scooter, shirts, purses scarves and more.
I know we covered flowers already, but they are just so beautiful.
I am not sure what he has on his scooter, but at first I thought it was a couch. I think it may be foam.
There really isn’t a moment that goes by without seeing someone scooting around Hanoi.
Perhaps this is paint delivery?
Thanks for stopping by. We do love to read your comments, so let us know your thoughts. Share with us what crazy things you have seen scooting around and where.
Oh by the way, we eventually did figure out how to cross the street in Hanoi. We even walked across the highway! We will tell you more about that later.
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Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
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Happy New Year family! What skill! My son is just learning how to ride a bike. So I can’t imagine how much practice you’d need to ride a scooter without being able to see haha. It looks horribly cold though. I thought it would be all tropical.
Hey Serena, so glad to hear from you. Happy New Year! Yes, it is crazy how much skill they need. Hey, I thought it would be warm everywhere over here too! In the south it is, but up north they have real winter. I guess kind of like Spain.
Hope you are doing well and so glad your son is learning to ride a bike.
Vietnamese are so skilled in balancing. Im sure it took them a lot of practice and time to be able to balance those heavy things on their scooters and their bikes. This is an interesting story. Enjoyed reading it.
Yes they are! I wish I had my camera out as we were crossing the border from Vietnam to Cambodia. Down the street came a big mound of packaged chips/snacks. It was about 2 meters wide and tall. You could see just the very bottom of two scooter tires and they were just floating down the road. I am not sure how the person driver could see, as we couldn’t even see the driver or handle bars. Amazing.
Love it! We spent a month South to North when our kids were 9 months and 4. I still can’t believe I had my baby in a sling on the back of a motorbike and got to feed her alongside the hill tribe woman in Sapa xx are you exploring Sapa at all?
Hey Bron! We won’t make it to Sapa on this trip. We are heading North to South and it is cold. Well, cold for us anyway. Further North would likely be too cold. It is amazing seeing people holding sleeping babies and toddlers on the scooters.