Day Eight: Hanoi

Saturday Morning in Hanoi

It's a bright fresh Saturday morning. The time is 8.40am. Along Ho Kiem Lake, the locals are out, walking, chatting and chilling. Some elderly women gossip merrily as they eat breakfast out of a banana leaf. Couples snuggle under the leafy privacy of a lakeside willow, shaded by a curtain of green. Nearby, a toddler scurries excitedly away from his mother in a sudden joyful sprint. An old man sits serenely in contemplation under an arching tree, back straight, arms slightly crossed. Exercise is taken s.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y here. Lots of people are waving their arms, stretching, bending and walking determinedly and briskly around the lake.

Even with the heaving weaving Hanoi traffic just metres away -- close enough for me to catch a whiff of the fumes -- there is a cocoon of stillness around the lake, as if its bright emerald waters confer a talisman of peace strong enough to keep the chaos at bay. It's truly beautiful here.
An elderly lady sits next to me on the bench, smiles and says something to me in Vietnamese. "No same same Vietnam," I smile at her." She grins, nods and goes back to reading her magazine. Two little girls -- presumably her grandchildren -- run up to her,breakfast baguettes in hand, chattering merrily. Nodding her head to me, she gets up and together, the family stroll off, in the direction of an icecream stand.

Spa treat and good eats

The Luxe guide said the sophistication of the spas in Hanoi left much to be desired. But QT spa, located just across from Ho Kiem Lake and along a stretch of luxury label boutiques, is a good bet. Pricey by Hanoi standards, the blissful steam bath, massage, facial and pedicure set me back S$86 -- is still a good deal compared to back home. Plus, it ends with a delectable snack! A fried puff filled with meat, veg and mung bean vermicelli, a sweet cool wedge of watermelon and fresh passionfruit juice!

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Post-spa treats

Green Tangerine Visit #02

We were excited! It was time for lunch and Green Tangerine beckoned. The menu is Vietnamese inspired French cuisine. See: Soups and Starters, Seafood, Meat, Dessert, Lunch Specials. We had:

Beef Carpaccio




Sliced Duck Fillet

Rabbit with "su su" turnip crumble




Diplomat Pudding



Frozen Green Tangerine (Lime green, lime, green and tangerine!)

In response our waitress said in polite but obvious incredulity, "Three mains sir? Two people?" To which we rather shamefacedly said "yes" and tried to look extra starved.