Walking tour in HA NOI City
If the Old Quarter is the heart of Hanoi, there is no better way to check its beat than pounding the narrow streets on foot. Start by paying your respects at the Ngoc Son Temple at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake. Cross back over bright-red Huc Bridge, stop for quick look at the Martyrs’Monument. Follow the lake around on Pho Dinh Tien Hoang and pick up some tickets for an evening performance at the Water Puppet Theatre on So Lau. Head north on pho Hang Dau and you ‘ll soon be swimming in shoe shops selling every shape, size and style –demonstrating how serious Hanoians are about their footwear. Cross over Pho Cau are about their foot wear. Cross over Pho Cau are about their footwear. Cross over Pho Cau are about their foot wear. Cross over Pho cau are about their footwear. Cross over Pho Cau. Go to Pho Hang Be and browse the colourful market, which occupies the narrow eastern terminus of Pho Gia Ngu.
Back on Pho Hang Be, continue north to the T-junction with Pho Hang Bac. Near here are several shops where artisans hand –carve intricate gravestones, most bearing an image of th deceased. A short detour north on Pho Ma May leads you to the Memorial House at No 87, an exquisite Chinese merchant’s home that has been restored as a museum.
Return to Pho Hang Bac and head west past a trip of snazzy jewellery shops. Dont miss the small entry to house 102, which includes a fully functioning temple where most people would have a lounge room. Exit and turn right onto Pho Hang Ngang past a Pho Hang Buom. This will take you past the small Bach Ma Temple.As you pass the pagoda, with its red funeral palanquin, look for its white–bearded guards, who spend their days sipping tea.
Legend has it that Ly Thai To used the pagoda to pray for assistance in building the city walls because they persistently collapsed, no matter how many times he rebuilt them. His prayer were finally answered when a white horse appeared out of the temple and guided him to the side where he could safely build his wall. Evidence of his success is still visible at Cua O Quan Chuong, the quarter’s well-preserved Old East Gate at the eastern end of Pho Hang Chieu, near the intersection Pho Tran Nhat Duat.
Continue north along the narrow Pho Thanh Ha, which has a traditional street market, with squirming fish, chunky frogs and heaped produce. Follow this round to the left and emerge near Dong Xuan Market, one of the most important in the city. Venture in, but bookmark any serious shopping for later as there is still plenty to experience.
Backtrack south on Nguyen Thien Thuat and turn right on to Pho Hang Chieu, past a handful of shops selling straw mats and rope. This becomes one of Ha Noi’s most interesting street, Pho Hang Ma – the name translates as Counterfeit Street – where imitation “ghost money” is sold for burning in Buddhist ceremonies – there are even US$5000 bills! Loop around and follow your ears to the sounds of blacksmith pounding away on metal on the corner of Pho Lo Ren and Pho Thuoc Bac. Moving south on Pho Thuoc Bac, turn onto Pho Lan Ong, where a fantastic row of herb seller fill the street with pungent aromas. Continue to the end and take a breather at the Banguette et Chocolat, a café with cold drink and exquisite pastries.
Double back to Pho thuoc Bac and head south past the tin-box market, opposite the mirror shops on Pho Hang Thiec, then turn left towards the interesting shops selling Buddhist altars and statues along Pho Hang Quat.
From here, head south on Pho Luong Van Can past all the toyshops , which could save the day if you are following this walk with flagging children. Then wander west along Pho Hang Gai, window shopping as you pass the elegant designer silk shops. Head south on Pho Ly Quoc Su to the superb neo-gothic St Joseph Cathedral. If the exercise is taking its toll on a hot day, just a few steps from the church , along Pho Nha Tho, there’s cluster of stylish restaurants and cafes .
If you’re looking for something a bit more local in flavor, turn left at the end of Pho Nha Tho onto Pho Hang Trong , right onto Pho Bao Khanh and left at Pho Hang Hanh. this street is chock-a –block with Vietnamese cafes and bars and is a good place to stop, rest your weary legs and watch the world go by.
Walking tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Although HCMC is a sprawling metropolis- and growing by the day- there is still some splendid exploring you can do foot. This walking tour covers the city center, District 1 (or “Saigon”), and can be done in one, stimulus-filled day.
Begin your excursion bright and early in Pham Ngu Lao, a teeming area of colourful shops and backpacker cafes. Skip the greasy eggs and bacon, however, and instead grab a bowl of steaming pho, which you can enjoy from a sidewalk vendor (prevalent along Bui Vien St) or a few blocks away from Pho 2000, serving tasty noodles to locals, foreigners and the odd dignitary from time to time – including former US president Bill Clinton.
Cross the road and enter the vast indoor Ben Thanh market, which is at its bustling best in the morning. After exploring the market , cross the massive roundabout (carefully !), where you’ll see a statue of TRAN NGUYEN HAI on horseback. One short block south, on Pho Duc Chinh St, is the quaint Fine Arts Museum, where you can tour some exhibits, and peek in some excellent galleries behind the museum. Zigzag east to Ham Nghi Avenue and turn north again on Ton That dam St to stroll through the colourful street market. Nearby on Ton That Dam St you can stop for the snack at Fanny which serves SaiGon ’s best ice cream. From up Le Loi St, the large boulevard leading towards the grand and thoughtfully restored Municipal Theatre. One short block before the theatre, turn left at the Rex Hotel and head up Nguyen Hue Avenue. Just ahead, at the northern end of the boulevard, is the stately French-colonial era Hotel de Ville. You’ll have to admire it from the outside became it’s now home to the local People’s Committee- requests to visit the interior are denied. However, a one –block walk south on Le Thanh Ton will bring you to the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, where visitors are warmly received .
The popular War Remnants Museum is just a few blocks along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St then left on Vo Van Tan St. Near by is the Reunification Palace. Break up your sightseeing with lunch at one of many excellent restaurants nearby, including Quan An Ngon.
After refueling, stroll north along Le Duan Avenue, stopping to look at Notre Dame Cathedral and the impressive French – style post office. There you can buy lovely stamps and post letters to your soon-to-be-jealous friends back home. If you energy is warning, call it a day and skip to No 19, otherwise continue along Le Duan St to the end of the boulevard where you’ll find one of HCMC’s best museums, the excellent History Museum, which is on the grounds of the zoo and botanic gardens.
A few blocks northwest along Nguyen Binh Khiem St will bring you to Jade Emperor Pagoda, a remarkably peaceful refuge just steps from a busy avenue.
As the afternoon wanes, and your walking tour at the rooftop bar of the Sheraton Saigon – if coming from the Jade Emperor Pagoda, consider hopping on a xe om and zipping there for 10.000d. With a refreshing cocktail in hand, you can enjoy fine views over the city – a fair bit of which you’ve just traversed.
Walking tour in Hoi An
This tasty little trail takes you past Hoi An’s main sights in a half-day amble. If you want to venture inside some of the buildings, call into the Tourist Service Office to purchase your Hoi An Old Town ticket before you set off.
Start at the Tran family Chapel. Head south on Le Loi St and turn left at the next junction onto Tran Phu St. On your right you’ll find Quan Thang House and a little further on the left, the Museum of Trading Ceramics.Continuing along Tran Phu, there is a cluster of interesting buildings on the left side of the road, including the Chinese Allcommunity Assembly Hall and the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation. Keep heading east and at the next junction take a short detour north on Nguyen Hue St to the Hoi An Museum of History & Culture. Back on Tran Phu you ‘ll see the Quan Cong Temple. Still walking east on Tran Phu St , the Assembly Hall of the Hainan Chinese Congregation is on the left. Cross the next junction and the road becomes Nguyen Duy Hieu St . On the left iis the Assembly Hall of the ChaoZhou Chinese Congregation.
Take the second right and turn right again onto Phan Boi Chau St . There is a whole city block of colonnaded French buildings here between Nos 22 and 73, among them the 19th century Tran Duong House. Wander along Phan Boi Chau St, turning right just past the market and then left into Nguyen Thai Hoc and soak up the ambience of this street. On the left is the Handicraft Wordshop if you time it correctly you might be able to catch a culture performance. Just past the next street is the intriguingly named Hoi an Department of Managing & Gathering Swallow’s Nests.The nest’s are gathered from Cham Island twice a year; if you’re lucky you’ll be able to watch worker’s sorting their precious harvest here.
Turn right onto Le Loi St, then left onto Tran Phu St .Almost immediately on the left is the Old House at 103 Tran Phu. Keep heading west and you’ll pass the Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation. A little further along on the left is the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture & Museum of the Revolution. Beyond the museum is the famed Japanese Covered Bridge, which connects Tran Phu St with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St .Continue westward and keep an eye out for Phung Hung Old House. Also check out Cam Pho Temple.
From here either retrace your steps or continue on to the Cao Dai Pagoda. Then back across the Japanese bridge, turn right and follow the road onto Nguyen Thai Hoc where you’ll see the Tan Ky House. On the left before the next junction is the Diep Dong Nguyen House. Now you can settle down for a long, cool drink at one of the nearby bars.