Series

A Walk in My Shoes

Hanoi, Vietnam

By: Marym Z

Hanoi, Vietnam: Hoan Kiem Lake

The Hoan Kiem Lake is a very important and beautiful lake in Vietnam. It is really special and unique in many different types of way. The color of this lake isn’t found in any other lake because it depends on the color of the sky. This lake reflects off the sky, producing a beautiful unique color which is different from any other lake. The lake is always green, but the special thing about it is that it can either be a dark shade or a gorgeous lightish green shade. This lake is also full with one of Vietnamese culture’s sacred animal, tortoises. It is considered holy over here to witness a tortoise coming to the top. Isn’t the history and importance of the lake just astonishing?

When visiting Hanoi, Vietnam the Hoan Kiem Lake was my favorite landmark to visit! There was a different type of peacefulness there that I had never experienced in my whole life. I liked the place so much, that I literally went twice in one day! I went during sunrise and during sunset. I even got lucky enough to see the gorgeous sacred animal of Vietnam, the tortoise! They looked beautifully tremendous, especially when the blue sky of the morning went black and the lights in the city reflected off the animal’s hard shell, giving it a nice shine. The mornings are even better. When I went there to get done my daily exercise at around 5 in the morning, it felt as if the whole town was there! The bridge was so full with people running, jogging, walking, and jumping everywhere! It was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. And of course, what better way to top of the evening with calmness. I did yoga for a little time before the sunset, and reluctantly went back home ending my 2nd and final visit to the lake.

When visiting Hanoi, Vietnam the Hoan Kiem Lake was my favorite landmark to visit! There was a different type of peacefulness there that I had never experienced in my whole life. I liked the place so much, that I literally went twice in one day! I went during sunrise and during sunset. I even got lucky enough to see the gorgeous sacred animal of Vietnam, the tortoise! They looked beautifully tremendous, especially when the blue sky of the morning went black and the lights in the city reflected off the animal’s hard shell, giving it a nice shine. The mornings are even better. When I went there to get done my daily exercise at around 5 in the morning, it felt as if the whole town was there! The bridge was so full with people running, jogging, walking, and jumping everywhere! It was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. And of course, what better way to top of the evening with calmness. I did yoga for a little time before the sunset, and reluctantly went back home ending my 2nd and final visit to the lake.

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Hanoi, Vietnam:
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

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The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a very important landmark in Vietnam because it of it’s history. This Mausoleum was made to honor the dedication and bravery of Ho Chi Minh, who is known as Vietnam’s national hero. The Mausoleum holds Ho Chi Minh’s body, where many people come to worship him and take a few moments to express the thankfulness and respect they have for him, because he tried his best to unify the country. When visiting the Mausoleum there are also rules you need to follow about clothing and actions, including what you can and cannot bring with you.

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My visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was very, yet again, different in many types of ways. When looking at the gratitude and respect every single one of those Vietnamese’ had for Ho Chi Minh brought my eyes to tears. I actually started to understand the importance of this leader in the country of Vietnam. When I entered the mausoleum, it was literally the quietest place I ever had been in. I felt as if I could hear my blood flow through my body. In my opinion, I think the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the only place you could ever really go to, to worship someone so deeply.

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Hanoi, Vietnam:
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

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My visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was very, yet again, different in many types of ways. When looking at the gratitude and respect every single one of those Vietnamese’ had for Ho Chi Minh brought my eyes to tears. I actually started to understand the importance of this leader in the country of Vietnam. When I entered the mausoleum, it was literally the quietest place I ever had been in. I felt as if I could hear my blood flow through my body. In my opinion, I think the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the only place you could ever really go to, to worship someone so deeply.

Hanoi, Vietnam:
Ba Vi, National Park

This park is known for its beautiful mountainous topography and its beautiful thick, green forest covering. It’s cool temperature with it’s fresh air is a great way to relax the human body. The park also has a pathway, in which it allows you to tour the whole jungle without getting lost. Since the park is basically located on top of a mountain, you have the ability to tour a forest and hike all at once. The higher you climb, the more foggy and misty it gets. Visiting the park is just a very good way to “enjoy life in the clouds.”

I loved going to this national park! It was so amazing! Like, the ability to walk and tour through a jungle without getting lost is just insane! While touring the forest, I saw and witnessed things nature produces that I’ve never seen before. It was really cool because things that grow in forests and jungles don’t just grow everywhere! When I went to the park, I felt as if I left my normal life alone for some time and jumped into a life full of activities and no tension. Plus, I also experienced hiking on mountains. I have to admit, this was hard but it was just as fun. I had a lot of fun while doing this activity. To wrap the day up, we got the moment to sit down and relax our souls under the protective covering of the prodigious trees. I loved going to Ba Vi National Park!

I loved going to this national park! It was so amazing! Like, the ability to walk and tour through a jungle without getting lost is just insane! While touring the forest, I saw and witnessed things nature produces that I’ve never seen before. It was really cool because things that grow in forests and jungles don’t just grow everywhere! When I went to the park, I felt as if I left my normal life alone for some time and jumped into a life full of activities and no tension. Plus, I also experienced hiking on mountains. I have to admit, this was hard but it was just as fun. I had a lot of fun while doing this activity. To wrap the day up, we got the moment to sit down and relax our souls under the protective covering of the prodigious trees. I loved going to Ba Vi National Park!

Hanoi, Vietnam:
Hóa Lo Prison

Even though it may sound weird, this prison is a landmark in Vietnam. Many people visit the Hoa Lo Prison to actually experience what it was like during the Vietnam War. When the French had invaded Vietnam, they’d built this Prison for the people to arrest them if they’d done something wrong. Later on, many people started to dislike the prison because of its horrible conditions. Soon the Vietnam War started and the Prison became the main point to hold the captured American Soldiers, where the Vietnamese Government tortured and abused them to get to know military information. This prison is a great place to learn and see American Prisoner life during the Vietnam War.

When I went to the Hoa Lo Prison in Vietnam, it was scary! I saw the way the Americans stayed because of the sculptures kept there, but even looking at that gave me the chills. I mean like the way the people were kept showed me how bad the conditions were at the time. Something else that added to the way I felt was the silence in the area. There’s not many people there at once, so when I was looking at the things it was very quiet. At times, I felt as if a Vietnamese person was getting ready to beat me. Even though it was scary and creepy, the quietness gave me a chance to indulge into the situations back then and actually hear the screams of the Soldiers, which are still echoing and bouncing off the walls back and forth today.

When I went to the Hoa Lo Prison in Vietnam, it was scary! I saw the way the Americans stayed because of the sculptures kept there, but even looking at that gave me the chills. I mean like the way the people were kept showed me how bad the conditions were at the time. Something else that added to the way I felt was the silence in the area. There’s not many people there at once, so when I was looking at the things it was very quiet. At times, I felt as if a Vietnamese person was getting ready to beat me. Even though it was scary and creepy, the quietness gave me a chance to indulge into the situations back then and actually hear the screams of the Soldiers, which are still echoing and bouncing off the walls back and forth today.

Hanoi, Vietnam:
Dong Xuan Market

The Dong Xuan Market is the oldest market in Hanoi. It is huge and has everything in here. You can find people selling hardware, food, clothes, souvenirs, and so much more. The market is fascinating, because it sells just about anything. This market is also known for its history, because this market witnessed the battle between the French and Vietnamese as well as witnessing a combat of soldiers, deciding to die so they could go against the french. This market is very busy. There’s hustling everywhere. The market is a great point for tourists where they could experience food stalls still open way past midnight and so much more! This market also had catched on fire once, where it lost $4.5 million worth of stock. Even though there are more markets in Hanoi, the Dong Xuan market has been the one many tourists have been obsessed with. This is the only market which meets the criteria of showing tourists fascinating and beautiful items.

When I visited the Dong Xuan Market, I experienced a big change in lifestyle and community. The market gave me a heavy influence on how diversity is like. The market was so diverse in every way, shape and form. Every stall had something new. Some stalls had beautiful clothing, while some had gorgeous pottery. It seemed as if each person who set up the stall had a different story behind them. For some people, it looked as if they were doing it because of desperation for a better life style, while other people looked like they were doing this because they admired it. There was so much variety, every stall was packed with loads of people jostling each other, running, walking, and so much more. The Dong Xuan Market was the first place I ever went to where I experienced so much sociality and biodiversity. I loved this experience!