Slow travel is something we wanted to do more of on this adventure. It’s better for stress levels, the environment and allows travelers to have a genuine experience in a location. Bali was a slow travel destination for us, but we’ve been moving a little quicker since then. Hanoi was the first chance we had to slow it down a little.
With a total 10 nights in the city, we were able to get into more of a routine. We spent the first few nights in an AirBnB with friends until they left and we moved to a smaller apartment. Both were located outside of the Old Quarter, but still in amazing locations that allowed us to explore the city with ease.
We have already shared our favorite spots in Hanoi for food, drink and exploration, so this post is more of a collection of the everyday things we want to remember about Hanoi. This city was the first place in Vietnam that we felt super comfortable and really loved it. It’s all about the simple pleasures and trying to just blend in to the everyday rhythm.
Our Collection of Simple Moments in Hanoi
Early Morning Breakfast & Walk
Each morning, we would wake up, put on comfy clothes, and head out. Loose, baggy clothes were best for the heat and humidity that shows up quickly in the morning hours. There were quite a few French bakeries within a block or two of our place. We would grab croissants and then either enjoy a coffee outside somewhere or grab the canned version if it was already steaming hot outside.
Vietnam gets up early. The energy of the markets is so high in the morning. So many of the people believe that you have to be early to get the best produce. Learning how to navigate the markets to get fresh fruit felt like a real victory for us. Dragonfruit is my favorite, while Justin loves a fresh papaya.
Quiet Time Indoors
We are finally getting used to planning our middays inside. The heat in SE Asia in the summer is nothing to be messed with. We operate better when we don’t overheat by trying to be outside doing things all day.
After a morning walk, we would return to our apartment and get comfortable for a while. We used the time to read, watch some Netflix or prep some of our next travel plans. The picture above is the second place we rented and it was perfection.
Take Nice, Slow Walks
After living in New York City, our walking speed escalated to a near jog. Turns out, that is great when you want to hike all over New Zealand and see the entire city of Auckland in a week on foot, BUT it is not good when it is 100 degrees. We have learned to slow down when we get out to stroll. It is not easy to change your speed, but we just constantly remind ourselves to slow down.
There are so many wonderful places to explore in Hanoi. Old Quarter is a popular place to wander for tourists, but we stayed closer to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and it was a great neighborhood for some afternoon wandering.
Air Conditioned Stops As Needed
The other trick we learned to enjoy the day is to take a lot of breaks in air-conditioned shops and restaurants. We aren’t normally shoppers, but the heat forced us to step into different places. Wandering through art studios, supermarkets, bookstores and tons of different local spots that we would have missed if the temps were in the 70s.
No souvenirs have been purchased on our trip, but we did pick up a couple of postcards made by local artists. We also found a few cafes this way – happy hour signs were always a draw.
The Greatest People Watching
Life looks so different here than anywhere I’ve ever lived. Spending those early mornings and late afternoons just sitting and watching life happen was so amazing. Watching the balancing act of vendors with bicycles and scooters is something I could do for hours. My favorite thing about spending some time in a place is being able to observe the daily routines of other people.
Slow travel is one of the perks of taking a full year to move around the globe. Every additional day you can spend somewhere allows you to do something that isn’t on the top of Trip Advisor’s list. You can walk instead of taking a hop on hop off bus. You can explore shops and restaurants you would not have found on a quick weekend.
I wish we could have stayed longer in some of the other places we’ve visited, but I’m so glad that Hanoi was our longer stay in Vietnam. The city is wonderful, and we hope to visit again when it isn’t the middle of summer.
Some Details if You’re Visiting Hanoi
Here is the 2 bedroom place we stayed with our friends. Great spot, very comfortable.
If you want a hotel in the middle of the Old Quarter, I can’t recommend this one enough. We stayed there one night when our Ha Long Bay Cruise was canceled and moved later, and we loved it. Great location, helpful staff, and comfortable rooms.
