Vietnam- Hanoi vs. SAigon

After a full two weeks of living in Vietnam, I think I can safely say that I got a general idea of the two major cities, Hanoi and Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh. In case you might want to travel to Vietnam one day and check out either of this amazing cities, here are some of my thoughts, opinions and suggestions about the two!

Hanoi-

Hanoi is located in Northern Vietnam and is the country's current capital. It is an old city with a lot of French influence in its architecture, some food and other aspects of its culture. It is a more conservative city than Hanoi, with less of a nightlife, and an older population inhabiting its streets, and so many restaurants and shops close earlier in the night, around 9 or 10. It is great to walk around the old quarters of the city, it is rich with shops and handmade goods, as well as a lot of cheap, knock-off Northface and Nike clothing. Haggling is a must for both of the cities because when they see the face of a foreigner, they will increase their price by about 60%. So, make sure when buying things on the street, to haggle them down, and not get all your money taken from you. In Hanoi, I found that it was easier to find really cheap food, and cheaper gifts as well. You can basically eat anywhere and not fear getting sick, as long as your food is steaming and you watch it being made, you should be fine. I had some of the best and cheapest Pho and Banh Mi at some of the grimiest, hole-in-the-wall places. Everyone there has to make a living, so don't judge a restaurant by its cover. As far as people go, the ones in Hanoi were extremely welcoming and kind. Never did I get a bad look or attitude because I was foreign. The Silk Village is also a great part of Hanoi that everyone should visit. One can see silk scarves being made and even buy them right from the shops. The center of the city is home to a huge lake, with lots of beautiful trees and plants surrounding it. If you want to see some pretty gnarly looking trees, I definitely recommend Hanoi. Our guide told us that some of them were over 250 years old! Overall, I am quite partial to Hanoi. I enjoyed its ambience much better, and I just felt more at ease in the city, but Saigon certainly has its perks too.

Saigon-

Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, is located in Southern Vietnam and is certainly a more historically rich city. While there, we were able to visit Independence Palace, the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, and the Cu Chi tunnels. All of these places gave me a greater and more open-minded understanding of the Vietnam war and made me feel much more self-aware and educated. The people in Saigon were a bit rougher, definitely more sneaky, as we were instructed to keep our bags close to us at all times in this city. The food was definitely more expensive here, and for a good reason, because there were many more other tourists in Hanoi. I could tell that because of its geographical location, many people from Austrailia, Cambodia, and Thailand were visiting there. We also met a fair amount of Americans as well. I found it interesting how many more foreigners inhabited this city, and chalked it up to the location and hot sunny weather. The city also was definitely more alive in the night. There were many more bars and clubs and fun activities to do at night. We had been told by people in Hanoi that Saigon was going to be a less conservative city, and I think in the end, they were right. I loved both cities for different reasons, but if you plan to travel to Vietnam, and have some time to spare, try to visit both cities, for each one has so much to offer.

-ECM