For those who weren’t convinced yet that Hanoi isn’t much of a skyscraper capital, well… This photo was taken right in the heart of the city, on a terrace overlooking Hoàn Kiếm lake. You can even see (even though it appears super tiny on the picture) the Tortoise tower I featured a while ago. High-rise buildings are being build all around of course nowadays, so enjoy the view while it lasts!

Can you guess what this is? Theatre? Nope, it actually is the ‘stage’ of the famous Water Pupper show, located at one of the corners of Hoan Kiem lake; a traditional music band plays while animated puppets are evolving on the water in front of this house (which hides the puppet masters). The show is split into a bit less than 20 short scenes which mostly relate to Vietnamese folklore… Very fun to see!

Most tourists who visit Hanoi bring some lacquerware back home, and for a good reason: the one produced here is of excellent quality and has evolved from traditional motifs to more vibrant colors and modern shapes. Here’s a piece I like from my favourite lacquer shop, which is tiny (probably no more than two meters in width!) but has got a lot to offer. Go visit them if you can, they’re called the ‘Vietnamese Craft Guild’ and they’re located on To Tich street.