• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

Daily Life In Hanoi

Kathleen Peddicord by Kathleen Peddicord
Apr 30, 2009
in Lifestyle
0
retire to hanoi, Vietnam
209
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

“Hanoi is a vibrant city of more than three million,” writes new Correspondent Wendy Justice, “the cultural and spiritual heart of Vietnam.

“Less influenced by the west than Ho Chi Minh City, her brazen sister to the south, this modern city has retained its traditional roots, with small, family-owned businesses instead of fast-food chains, mega-supermarkets, and international department stores.

“Hanoi has a character rarely seen in modern Asian cities. It boasts beautiful examples of French colonial architecture, trees on every street, and busy cafes and shops spilling onto the sidewalks.

“Your first and lasting impression of Hanoi is of its energy. Barely controlled anarchy rules, as thousands of motorbikes, cars, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians compete for space on the city’s narrow, twisting streets. A blizzard of sound assaults you. Horns honk, hawkers sing out, loudspeakers blare the latest government announcement, diners at the al fresco cafes seem to roar…

“During our three months living in the city, we spent a great deal of time sitting on our doorstep, watching the activity swirl around us. Every few minutes, a bicycle taxi, or cyclo, would stop, unbidden, the driver asking, ‘Where you go?’

“We saw a bicycle loaded with the equivalent of a small hardware store, the owner slowly pushing his goods down the street…a man delivering three gross of eggs strapped onto his bicycle…another bicycle packed with 12-foot lengths of bamboo…

“There was the glass vase peddler, with approximately 100 fragile vases artfully displayed on the sides and back of his bicycle…

“It is possible to see refrigerators, plate-glass windows, and full-sized mattresses strapped onto motorbikes…motorbikes hauling pigs, dozens of chickens, cases of pots and pans…a motorbike stacked 10 feet high with cases of toilet paper… The distribution network in this city is something to behold.

“Every day, a middle-aged lady would squat on a tiny little wooden stool on the sidewalk in front of our doorstep, a large, woven tray at her feet piled high with cuts of fresh meat. A customer would stop, and the two would negotiate a price. The lady would cut off a slab of meat and then, in a matter of moments, cleaver in each hand, deftly chop the steak fine as hamburger.

“Gossip and plans would be shared, money would exchange hands, then the shopper would wander a few feet down the street to chat and dicker for vegetables from the next vendor.

“The local economy of Hanoi is built on relationships. Prices are rarely marked, and negotiation is expected. A purchase is as much a social agreement as a business transaction. A foreigner can expect to pay more than a local, and a young woman may pay more than an elderly man; a person wearing peasant clothing almost certainly will pay less than someone wearing an expensive suit. A regular customer, local or foreigner, will get a price that is a fraction of what might be charged to a stranger.

“On one corner of our street was a bustling streetside café and snack shop. On the opposite corner, a bia hoi (fresh beer) shop that did a brisk business. Artfully dodging cars, motorbikes, pedestrians, and bicycles, the waiters would carry huge trays laden with glasses of beer across the street to diners perched on tiny plastic stools. Motorbikes would honk their horns and, without slowing, pass through the unregulated intersection.

“We saw many near-misses but, amazingly, few accidents.

“Directly opposite our doorstep were the bamboo merchants. Long poles of bamboo were stacked vertically against the building, reaching toward the roof. Sometimes the poles would be fashioned into ladders, pipes, canes, or baskets while the customer waited, sipping tea and sharing gossip.

“A lady would walk by smelling like daybreak with a mountain of fresh baguettes piled on a tray balanced atop her head. A young man with a stack of photocopied books would beam a smile to every foreigner he saw, hoping for a sale. We would watch ladies trotting down the street burdened with giant baskets of fresh tropical produce, household goods, or even small restaurants hung from wooden poles and balanced like scales on their shoulders.

“We found that we didn’t need to go to the store. Hanoi brought the shopping to us.

“One day, we heard a loud explosion. Was it a bomb? An accident? There was a rare moment of silence. A crowd of more than a hundred people gathered, only to find that a cat had apparently jumped off a roof and landed on an electric transformer. The power was out, but activity quickly resumed. Horns honked, and people discussed the event for a few moments, while bits of fur floated gently away in the breeze. Just another day in Hanoi.

“Another steamy afternoon, we watched as a motorbike screeched to a stop a few feet away from us. Jumping off his scooter, the driver lifted up the seat of his bike to retrieve some papers from the compartment underneath and out jumped a rat, which promptly scurried off. The rider barely noticed, but we couldn’t stop laughing at what passes for normal in this city.

“Other cities may have bigger markets or more glittery temples, but no other city offers such a sense of ‘other-ness.’

“The best way to experience Hanoi is to walk through the many micro-neighborhoods in the Old Quarter (the Hoan Kiem District). You’ll hear the tin street before you get there, as a block full of tinsmiths hammer from dawn until dusk manufacturing the goods of their trade.

“Nearby is Hang Ma, where bright lanterns, elaborate gift baskets, stacks of paper offerings, cards, lights, and holiday decorations erupt in a carnival of color.

“Hang Bac, where you can shop for every sort or silver imaginable, is near Lan Ong, where the tantalizing smells of Chinese herbs and teas drift over the sidewalks.

“There are linen streets, candy streets, fish streets, toy streets, art streets, audio streets, baby clothes streets, silk streets, cell phone streets…

“Part of what makes Hanoi so unique is the exuberant and incredibly energetic nature of its people. They are intoxicated with the enthusiasm and hope that come from improving living conditions and expanded freedoms. The laughter of children and the honest curiosity of the people are welcoming. The arousing atmosphere of ordered chaos, seasoned with a hint of luck and fortune, sharpens the senses.

“Vietnam was consumed by struggle for decades. It has emerged victorious. Its population, most born after the wars ended, are irrepressible idealists. They see their world developing and evolving and are determined to be successful participants.”

Kathleen Peddicord

Comments

Tags: 'Vietnam'Retire To Hanoi
Share84Tweet52
Previous Post

Awesome Beaches…Plus A Whole Lot More

Next Post

Northern Thailand–Wild And Sweet

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and is considered the world's foremost authority on these subjects. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France... next to Panama City, where she has based her Live and Invest Overseas business. Most recently, Kathleen and her husband Lief Simon are dividing their time between Panama and Paris.

Kathleen was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. In that capacity, she opened her first office overseas, in Waterford, Ireland, where she managed a staff of up to 30 employees for more than 10 years. Kathleen also opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France.

Kathleen moved on from her role with Agora in 2007 and launched her Live and Invest Overseas group in 2008. In the years since, she has built Live and Invest Overseas into a successful, recognized, and respected multi-million-dollar business that employs a staff of 35 in Panama City and dozens of writers and other resources around the world.

Kathleen has been quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance, the AARP, and beyond. She has appeared often on radio and television (including Bloomberg and CNBC) and speaks regularly on topics to do with living, retiring, investing, and doing business around the world.

In addition to her own daily e-letter, the Overseas Opportunity Letter, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, Kathleen writes regularly for U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Her newest book, "How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad," published by Penguin Random House, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world.

Related Posts

Porto, Portugal cityscape on the Douro River.
Lifestyle

Our Most Popular FAQs On Moving Abroad: Portugal Edition

by Kathleen Peddicord
February 28, 2021
0

When making any move overseas, you'll have lots and lots of questions. Maybe you won't be sure who to ask......

Read more
Cascais, Lisbon Area, Portugal

Finding Our Dream Life Overseas In Cascais, Portugal

February 26, 2021
Azenhas do Mar, Portugal coastal town.

Portugal: The Best Place To Live Is Also One Of The Safest

February 25, 2021
South Water Caye in Belize.

Everything You Need To Know About The Many Faces Of Belize

February 21, 2021
Beautiful Caribbean sight with turquoise water in Caye Caulker island, Belize.

10 Reasons To Reinvent Your Life In Beautiful Belize

February 17, 2021
View overlooking Corozal township in Belize.

Different Places To Live Well In Northern Belize

February 16, 2021
The Village of Roquebrun in Saint Chinian, France.

The Best Places For Green Living Overseas Today

February 15, 2021
Next Post
Monk in Thailand Meditating

Northern Thailand--Wild And Sweet

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.