As tourists we’re drawn to the historical sites, museums, and natural wonders; all the places the guidebooks say we should go. But my favorite moments while traveling are those in which I witness the everyday played out in new and interesting ways. We arrived early in Hanoi off a night train, so we spent time wandering the city and soon found ourselves at Hoan Kiem lake where hundreds if not thousands of Vietnamese were exercising. Actions such as rubbing the belly or poking fingers in the ears derive from traditions of Chinese medicine, which many Vietnamese practice.
After 8 weeks of travel, we were a bit fatigued by historical sites and museums so we spent our time in Hanoi instead wandering, eating, drinking 25 cent beers and doing lots and lots of shopping. Enjoy the photos below:
Its easy to poke fun at all the rubbing and slapping but those old folks look pretty healthy. Nice mini vid and great photos. Thanks for being out eyes and ears in South East Asia.