Old Quarter with Hanoi Kids!

Yesterday, we visited the Old Quarter with two students with Hanoi Kids, an organization that provides free tours.  It was a great way to meet the locals and they spoke English very well.  Both were studying economics in university and had parents with good jobs (dentists, doctors and government employees).  The women said that they learned English grammar in school but learned how to speak by watching You Tube.  We visited the temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, the various sectors of the Old Quarter, as well as a Heritage House.  We stopped mid morning for a coconut coffee, a coffee with chocolate sauce and a gigantic scoop of coconut ice cream... so delicious!  Our guides explained the cafe was decorated in a 1980s Viet Cong military style and the waiters were dressed like soldiers.  After touring the Old Quarter, including a wholesale market, we had lunch with our tour guides at a restaurant serving bun cha (vermicelli noodles with pork patties).  We tried to tip our tour guides but they would not take the tips -only a donation for their organization, which we would highly recommend.  They told us there is a similar organization in Saigon, called Saigon Hotpot, so we will try to check it out in a few days.

Mike, Aidan, and Maya on bridge with "Em" and Tu, our tour guides

Family photo on bridge

 Inside the temple was a preserved turtle, a symbol of longevity

 Walking in the Old Quarter

Lots of fruit and vegetables for sale

 Mike and Maya with Tu (from Hanoi Kids)

In the cafe waiting for our coconut coffee

Em and Carol

Here it is.. coffee, coconut ice cream and chocolate sauce.. delicious!

 There was not much coffee in the drink so Maya and Mike sampled it too

Heritage House

This house was built in 19th century

The Heritage House had a small courtyard and would have been occupied by a rich family (e.g., rice seller)

We walked through many markets

It was quite busy, possibly because it was Saturday

Here we are inside a wholesale market, selling all variety of dried mushroom and fish as well as fabrics.  It was very cramped inside.

Getting ready for some bun cha

Bun cha served and delicious