5 Things Should do in Vietnam Hanoi

Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi. The beautiful capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi was formerly the capital of North Vietnam, prior to the re-unification of the country, once the Vietnam War had ended.

Hanoi is a cauldron of exotic ancient monuments, modern skyscrapers and remnants of the colonial imperialism.

Being situated along the banks of the Red River affords the city of a cooler climate than what is often found in the southern regions of this country.

Hanoi offers the visitor a wealth of historical attractions and tourist sights considering how the city has become so modernized since the end of the Vietnam War and the re-unification of the country. From big, bustling metropolitan areas to the lush green countryside that the nation is known for, there is a multitude of things to see and do. From shopping a the local night markets to seeing the artists at work

However, we feel that the following 5 are the top ones and should be considered as “Must See” attractions and sights on your travel itinerary.

1. The Hanoi Hilton (Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi)
Don’t let the name deceive you. This isn’t a hotel. This was a name given for ironic reasons to the original Hoa Lo Prison that housed many American prisoners during the Vietnam War. The list of prisoners included John McCain, the 2008 Republican candidate for US President, who spent a portion of his 5½ year imprisonment at this facility.

2. Hoan Kiem Lake (Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi)
Referred to as the “Lake of the Restored Sword”, it is the center of many events for locals and is situated in the center of the city. It is an easy walk around the entire body of water and offers the tourist an abundance of excellent photographic opportunities including the view from the overlook of the Jade Mountain Temple.

3. One Pillar Pagoda (Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi)
Regarded as one of the country’s most iconic attractions, this historic Buddhist temple is a small structure constructed out of timber and perched upon a single pillar of stone. Emperor Lý Thái Tông originally commissioned the structure in 1049.

4. The Presidential Palace (Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi)
Designed in a uniquely Italian renaissance style, this was the former dwelling place of the French Governor General. The former Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh also resided here at one time.

5. The Temple of Literature (Top 5 Things to do in Vietnam Hanoi)
Now used as a Confucian temple, the building was originally constructed in 1070 and was formerly the site of one of the oldest universities in Vietnam. Although Confucian temples are numerous throughout the country, this is the most famous of all and is targeted destination for many who visit Vietnam. Historically, it is considered to be one of the country’s finest sites and tourist attractions.

Comment on whether tourism has been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions

To a large extent, I strongly agree that tourism has been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions. Tourism development causes the local culture to be diluted, resulting in the loss of indigenous identity and values. When tourists travel to Japan, they will bring in their own cultures. As a result of adapting to tourists demands, the locals are influenced by the tourists, which in turn change their value systems and behaviour and thereby threaten the culture of the Japanese indigenous identity.

Religion And Ritual in Japan

Religion is not dominant in Japan, but are not followers of the two major religions in this country, ie, Shintoism and Buddhism.

In this day and time, beliefs, rituals, beliefs and overlap each other and it is difficult to identify one religion from another. Shinto is the belief that it is a superpower in all elements of nature instead of a single god. There are specific sites that have become sanctuaries dedicated to worship of the sun and the like. Each site is associated with a deity known as kami. Buddhism in Japan came from the influence of China, and is much more popular in the country. There are several Buddhist temples and in some cases, these are built Shinto shrines. The Japanese should not be a very religious group, with those who visit these places of worship, especially at the festivals mentioned above. Other minority religions in the country include Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Recently, new religions have been founded on the basis of certain specific principles of Shinto and Buddhism. A religion such as the Soka Gakkai, a form of Buddhism.

Popular Japanese Festival

Japanese festivals are primarily about the celebrations with the family, although there are times when men and women gather to celebrate. Some of the popular festivals celebrated in Japan are:

* New Year's Day, New Year's Day is the most celebrated holiday in Japan and is a complete family affair. People travel to visit their families during this time and all the shops are closed to celebrate this time of year. Many families travel abroad at this time of year, as part of their annual vacation, but vacation time is just three days. Families also flock to shrines to pray for health, wealth and welfare.
* Day Coming of age - Seijin No Hi: This is another widely celebrated festival in Japan, which falls on the second Monday of each January, where all young adults who have come of age, that is, who turned 20 years old, come together. Young women dressed in kimonos extravagant cost several thousand yen. They go with their families to Shinto shrines and pray for their welfare. This is a very popular festival and one of those rare occasions where you will see young girls for many of them dressed in their traditional costumes.
* Valentine's Day: As in most parts of the world, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan with great fervor. However, the Japanese Valentine's Day is a bit skewed, because here, only women are expected to profess his love for men, giving gifts, especially chocolate. There is no other occasion in which men do the same for women (White Day - March 14). Valentine's Day in Japan is the symbol of a deep commitment and not something that is celebrated for the fun of it. However, on this day, women gift to men in their lives as friends and male family members.
*Girl of the Day  - Hina Matsuri: Popularly known as Doll Festival, Hina Matsuri falls on 3 March each year. On this day the parents of girls display dolls of ancient imperial couple at home, and in some cases, the wrists of the courtesans of the couple and other agents, along with peach blossoms and rice cakes are shown in multiple levels to a large deployment. These dolls are shown to remove the bad luck to the girls in the house for good fortune prevail. At the end of the day, at midnight, that is, the wrists should be replaced in their boxes, otherwise it is believed that the daughters of the house can not marry.
*Viewing Cherry Blossom - Hanami: The display of flowers (sakura) cherry is an ancient practice that continues with the same amount of popularity today of the months February to April each year. The length however, varies from region to region, depending on when these plants bloom. The trees are planted in parks and people know to enjoy the tea ceremony and picnics under the trees to celebrate the end of winter and early spring. The sakura disappear weeks after flowering and fall to the ground, which is a symbol of the ancient belief of the fleeting nature of youth and life in general.
Week # of Gold: The Golden Week is so named because three holidays tend to fall into the same week and at times beaten with a weekend that turns out to be a long vacation for everyone. This week falls on April 29 and May 5 and covers holidays that include Green Day, celebrated on April 29, Constitution Day, celebrated on May 3 and Children's Day (held mainly by children), held on 05 May.
* Star Festival - Tanabata Matsuri: This festival is celebrated on the basis of a legend about two lovers being separated by the Milky Way, which allows them to meet in one specific day in the 7 th month according to the lunar calendar. Because the lunar calendar is different in the regular schedule is followed, this festival falls on different dates between July and August. July 7 however, is the day you first start the festivities. People celebrate this day by writing different types of wishes on small pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo. This bamboo is burned after the festival ends, ie the next day. This festival is celebrated on a large scale throughout the country.
* Seven-Five-Three - Shichi-Go-San: It is a festival held specifically for children ages 3, 5 and 7 and marks the coming of age of children in middle childhood. To be a little more specific, this festival is important for girls who are 3 and 7 years of age, and children between 3 and 5 years of age. Observed at the weekend closest to November 15, this festival serves children dressed in elaborate kimonos and then visit several shrines in their city. The children are given what is known as Chitose Ame, a sweet long red and white as a symbol of good health and long life.
* Christmas - Meri Kurisumasu: Japan does not have a Christian population, however, Christmas is so popular in the country as any other festival. However, the essence behind the celebration of Christmas is completely different. No turkey and not go to church. All that remains is the ritual of giving gifts and celebrating with a dinner. There is a family event (such as New Year's Day), however, is celebrated with beautiful decorations. Christmas is not a holiday in Japan, but the parties are still organized to celebrate the day.