We are rounding the corner on week on of my nephew’s 5-week stay in VN and I swear this man has already done more than I have in my 1. 5 years here. We’ve nearly marked off all of the things on my list, I love lists, and are far exceeding all expectations. So, Les Go: Week One.
Vietnam is known for its food. Though the country really isn’t that big, it is mighty, as history shows. The same goes for the cuisine. Each region up and down the country has different flavors and specialities. In my opinion, Hanoi gets the short end of the stick when it comes to flavor, but they do have hot pot.
I always was intrigued driving past the street hot pot places filled with a young, boisterous crowd. Though intriguing, I never stopped into to taste the overflowing cornucopia that is Hot Pot. With Hot Pot, you’re basically given all of this raw food and you cook the stew to your liking.
There are so many things. Like tofu, shrimp, clams, crab, squid, octopus (sorry octos, I know you are geniuses and can conceptualise your fate), fish and crab cakes, mushrooms and beef. I was game for all of it, sans beef. As you sit around this mass of food the communal atmosphere engulfs you and you feel content, excited and intrigued all at the same time.
Along with the Hot Pot we ordered plum wine which was super strong. Along with the wine the give you a bowl of ice and a bag. You pour the wine on the top of the bag and ladle the wine out when needed. The way they served it wasn’t the most eco-friendly option but was novel nonetheless.
I don’t know how hype my nephew was during the Hot Pot extraveganza, but I was hella hype. It’s basically the most Hanoian thing you can do on a brisk winter night. I was all in.
Hoppin ’round Hanoi
Aside from stuffing our faces on Hot Pot, we really covered some miles in these streets. The thing with Hanoi is that you can discover something new every time you leave the house. I’m really not exaggerating here. Though my nephew is hella hard to read, I know his mind was pretty blown at all the stimuli.
It is really great to see Hanoi from his eyes. I have become jaded of my surroundings and shamefully so because I know I live in one of the most unique cities in the wold. But being with my nephew it puts a whole new spin on things. Our interactions have been incredibly positive in all aspects. Random people have come to speak English to us and wave to us on the street. It is everything I hoped for and more. I do realise that it is shameful I don’t speak VN, at least so I can show off to my guests, n shit. But I feel there will be plenty time for me to learn.
The thing about travelin, shit, the thing about life, is that you have to be willing to try. Try shit you’ve never thought about, known, heard, or experienced. The worst that could happen is that you hate it. So what. This experience is teaching me that one can lose their inhibitions at 31 or 19 and it’s never too late or too early. It’s also teaching me that there is a much bigger silver lining to Hanoi that I need to pay attention to on a daily.
Les Go... 