Fate and time brought us back to Hanoi. Instead of going on and about the usual activities one would do when visiting Hanoi for the first time, we ended up venturing into the spaces and places where many of the locals, youth / young adults in particular, spend their time at or visit in their leisure time. Visiting the local bookstores is something that I enjoy doing whenever I travel. So, a random search online brought us to the Bookworm in Hanoi! STOP 1: THE BOOKWORM It is a two-storey cosy space, tucked away in the corner of a quiet residential neighbourhood. The bookstore houses a wide variety of books, from children's books to Murakami's novels and to non-fiction genres. The bookstore keeper was reading a book when we walked in. She smiled at us and continued with her indulgence, immersed in a good read. The Bookworm, Hanoi: The best little bookshop in Southeast Asia Address: 44, Châu Long, Quận Ba Đình, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam STOP 2: MANZI Before we left The Bookworm, we asked if she had any recommendations for us. She wrote down the address on a slip of paper before passing it over. Following her lead, we left for Manzi that was in the vicinity. It was thrilling searching for local gems hidden in the bustling city centre in Hanoi. Manzi is a cafe and art space and/or gallery for budding designers and artists to showcase their work to the public. Visual artist Nguyen Minh Thanh's exhibits were on display when we visited the gallery last December. Many of his exhibits centred on the theme: No & Meaning. There were portraits of people surrounded by tranquility, seeking inner peace and harmony wherever they are. They appeared deep in thought, silent and reflective - perhaps highlighting the different kinds of emotions he has experienced in his life. Creatively expressing them in his works is a form of art in itself. The second storey is converted to a modern art space housing several paintings and installations. The curator was seated at a corner, deeply engrossed in her own work. I was (again) being a curious creature, and so I asked her about the significance of the colour of the bus in the watercolour sketch. "Oh, they are old buses." "The new ones are blue now." More questions surfaced from within. The old colonial buildings that stood tall in the past - where are they now? Are they now seen as white elephants, icons of the colonial past or merely impressive structures for visual consumption? Manzi Cafe and Art Space Address: 14 Phan Huy Ích, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam STOP 3: ZO PROJECT We followed the curator's advice to explore another art space known as Zo Project. It is a social enterprise aspiring to preserve and develop Dó paper, which is the traditional handmade paper of Vietnam. This creative space contains a range of paper products and handmade goods, from calendars to accessories. I love how we had to remove our shoes before entering - like how it is basic courtesy when you enter someone's house. It felt like we were stepping into someone's humble abode - snuggly and full of warmth inside. We chanced upon this stretch of railway tracks while walking aimlessly along the streets. The trains are scheduled to arrive at certain times of the day but we weren't that lucky to catch them that day. Some locals open up their houses along the tracks as cafes and rest-stops for travellers and photographers to spend their time at while waiting for the trains to arrive. Zó Paper - Art & Craft / Zó Project Address: Số 27 Đường Tàu, Ngõ 5A Trần Phú, Hanoi, Vietnam 084 STOP 4: Cộng Cà Phê After weaving through the patchwork of roads and unrelenting traffic, we found ourselves back in Old Quarter and wound up at a local coffee joint known as Cộng Cà Phê, or the local Vietnamese version of Starbucks. These local coffee joints are always filled with people. They were seated outdoors, on low plastic and wooden stools, facing the streets - an ideal setting for people-watching and to make idle conversations. It is one of my favourite pastimes in between travels. Of course, I love my cup of Vietnamese milk coffee! Cộng Cà Phê
Address: 54 Hàng Điếu, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
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