Hanoi's wide, tree-lined streets, beautiful lakes, cooler climate and colonial architecture give it a distinctive European feel. Despite this, Hanoi maintains it's Asian culture and strong nationalism.
There is still a strong French influence in Hanoi with some of the older folk still speaking the language and the French influence is also reflected in the availability, as elsewhere in Vietnam, of good food, wine, coffee and baguettes.
Hanoi's Old Quarter is located on the north-eastern shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, which means Lake of the Restored Sword and originates in a legend which tells of the sword being given to the Emperor to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. After the war, a giant golden tortoise snatched the sword from him while he was out fishing and swam with it into the depths of the lake.
Today, Thap Rua or the Tortoise Tower, is on an island in the centre of the lake, and many beautiful photographs have been taken of it. Early morning is the best time to stroll around the lake and see the locals start their day with a game of badminton, some Tai Chi exercises or just a quiet stroll. A Sunday afternoon walk around any of Hanoi's beautiful lakes can make you feel you are in a Swiss lake resort rather than a bustling, Asian city.
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