My first day in Ha Noi I was lucky enough to meet up with fellow AFAR traveler, Heather, who also aimlessly wanders to get a sense of a new place. Soon after dropping off our bags we started following our curiosities. At some point in the afternoon we came upon these old railroad tracks that were strewn with garbage, slightly elevated above the street, and lined by the backs of apartment buildings. Looking back on this photo, it captured my impression of the place- fresh fruit, worn facades, roaming cats, delicate shade hats and colorful bicycles all seem typical of Hanoi now. If you can, walk down the rail road tracks and bring some snacks for strays!

It took ages to find the (much acclaimed on AFAR) sunken B-52 bomber in Ha Noi. The twisted pile of metal hardly resembles a plane anymore but it was interesting none the less. Even more fascinating to me was the 'lake' it had fallen into. This emerald green pool was literally bubbling from some mysterious living sludge... I half expected the 3 eyed fish from the Simpsons to crawl out! It was awesome.

Pho Ga (chicken pho) is traditional to northern Vietnam and is served all day. The best time to get it from a local vendor is early in the morning because it's SO fresh and makes for a perfect breakfast. As a side note about this photo, I love spicy food so I thought that this was the perfect amount of chili peppers. As they warmed up however they spread a layer of hot chili oil over the soup making it very very spicy. While the colors make for a pretty picture, I had a stomach ache later. Stick to about 3 slices and then see how it tastes in 10 min.

Intricately stacking and securing goods onto the back of a bike was a fairly common, but always fascinating, sight in Vietnam. Next time I visit, I'll find a place to sit with a better background (probably on the side of the main road which is lined by murals) and taken more shots like this. I'd also buy a basket if I could find a way to carry it home...

I was so excited and surprised to see a cute food truck in Ha Noi. Too bad we had just eaten dinner- I would have loved to try it. If any AFAR travelers make it to Ha Noi and find this truck please try it out and let me know how it was!

Sweet corn, lightly battered and fried, served sizzling hot with a bowl of dipping sauce- SO delicious. I couldn't remember the name of this amazing dish so I emailed an expat we met living in Ha Noi. Matt told me it's called, "ngo chien, translation: little kernels of heaven"- a perfectly apt description.

We traveled to Vietnam shortly after Tet, but it turned out that celebrations were still lingering, as we discovered on a visit to the Temple of Literature. As we walked down the street toward the entrance, we stumbled on this bit of unexpected and unlikely art: A calligrapher was creating a giant scroll of poetry for the festival going on inside the temple. A thick crowd gathered as he made his way down the yards-long scroll, making deft and elegant brushstrokes. Being in Vietnam for Tet would be a unique experience, but we were happy to discover, quite by chance, that traveling shortly the height of the holidays allowed us to enjoy some of the residual celebrations, too.

I come from a city with a decent reputation for Vietnamese food, and though I knew the food would be better still in Vietnam, I couldn't fully understand how much better it would be. This is cross-an-ocean-just-to-eat-it good. This is last-meal-before-you-die good. The advertising method? A fan strategically placed behind the brazier where the pork patties were grilling, blowing the heavenly scent of caramelizing pig meat into path of passersby. Highly effective, highly delicious. 57 Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.

Via AFAR.com, I met some American pilots now living as expats in Vietnam. They were nice enough to take us out to some delicious local dinner spots and on motor bike rides through the outskirts of the city! This place, Pho Cuon Huong Mai, was far from the tourist district and incredibly tasty. For some wonderful recommendations message Ryan Goheen on AFAR.com: http://www.afar.com/users/ryan-goheen

One of the best parts about visiting Hanoi as a traveler is the food. So fresh, so delicious and so abundant that you can literally trip over it when trying to navigate the city's notoriously crowded sidewalks. This vegetable vendor outside Dong Xuan Market was just one of many selling a rainbow of raw ingredients, but her harmonious arrangement strategy made her goods stand out that much more. To get to Dong Xuan Market, which also has an enormous covered market, start at the northwest side of Hoan Kiem and walk up Hang Dao, which turns into Hang Ngang, Hang Duong and then Dong Xuan, all without you having to take a single turn.

Hanoi is one of the loveliest cities in Asia, with a beautiful Old Town and enchanting neighborhood near St Joseph’s Cathedral, and what we especially loved was going for a stroll in the evenings seeing the reflection of the One Pillar Pagoda glistening off the Turtle Lake. http://0dysseusjournal.blogspot.com/2012/01/vietnam-natures-work-of-art.html

There is very little that rivals the artistry and care given to the temples in Vietnam. These sacred spaces, which have provided peace and refuge for generation upon generation of Buddhists, don’t skimp on details. At the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, even the incense holders are delicately designed to protect the prayers that rise in smoke from their sticks. Located on Quoc Tu Giam street in central Hanoi, the Temple of Literature was Vietnam’s first Univeristy. It is now used as a temple honoring Confucius. The grounds boast beautiful gardens, sacred headstones, and gorgeous carved rooms. It is definitely a spot not to miss in Hanoi! Even with the expanse of the grounds, it can get extremely busy; so it is best to visit in the morning hours.

Spice pots from one of the stalls at Quan An Ngon. 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam http://www.dontforgetthepepto.com/asia/2011/5/10/ha-noi-part-deux.html

Halong Bay is by far the most beautiful place I've ever been to... It's like the movie Avatar minus the blue guys and destruction. Tall peaks jump out of the water all around you, and floating villages are hidden around every bend. If you travel to Vietnam, definitely make a day trip to Hanoi and spend it relaxing on a boat in the middle of the bay.

This past May I stopped in Ha Noi on my way to Laos and Cambodia. In barely 1.5 days I felt like I got to see a ton. This is NOT my preferred way to take in any town or city, but it was all I could fit into my schedule. Obviously I missed a ton, but I did have a good time...see all the pics & videos here: http://www.dontforgetthepepto.com/asia/2011/5/9/ha-noi.html

Few minutes into my Hanoi experience, I was overtaken by the most intense mix of smells, sounds, and sightings in the down town that never winds down. From vendors hawking their trades, food stalls operators preparing some of the most exotic, and yes delicious bites, to cyclo drivers who are hell bent of carrying on with their road rules oblivious lives. I emerged from a main street to spot the serene Hoan Kiem lake with its pagoda red Chinese bridge, and there was this couple staring at the bridge as much as the innocent eyed tourists who just came off their planes. For a fleeting moment the man turns to his equally mesmerized partner and whispers something..."Come with me!", he must have said.

While walking the hectic, busy streets of Hanoi, I came upon this young lady reading a newspaper on a quiet side street while attempting to sell her baskets of colorful, fresh fruit from her bicycle.

While strolling the waterfront of Hanoi in the late afternoon, I came upon this young couple sitting on a bench. No matter where in the world you are, there is always young love. I held up my camera and with hand motions, asked if I could take their photo. They giggled and suddenly became somewhat shy and at that moment, I took this photo.

While in Vietnam I came across so many adorable stray animals. Since adopting hundreds of feral cats and dogs was not an option I carried around leftovers from the free hotel breakfast for them.

I loved the Old Quarter. Each street's name corresponds to the wares in its shops. It was mind-boggling that the Vietnamese would be so rigid & organized, which is not the first impression you have (or even the 10th) when you visit this country. Hang Quat is, of course, the Street of Fans. It wasn't any more or less charming than the other streets, but devoting a whole block to the sale of fans is just a tad more unexpected than Street of Silk.