Field Trip to 36 Streets of Hanoi

This shoe store is in the 36 streets of Hanoi--a historical place of commerce where each street specializes in one type of product, in this case, shoes. What a sensible way to organize the market! If I want something, I don't have to waste time looking around, since every store in that street will sell the same thing. This system is a bit odd in the West (talk about intense competition for the sellers) but it benefits the consumer.



More pictures on other products...




What an interesting site: the French colonial architecture on the top floor while the bottom is an electronic store.


This is my first time trying "trai xấu" a really sour fruit flavored with spicy pepper. Tasted good.


Situated right in the middle of a busy street, this 1000 years old tree is considered sacred and spirited, however some tourists just casually past by it. I wonder what they are thinking? Is Vietnam a playground, a safari and they are the rangers goggling the exotic surroundings? There is a thin line between tourist and a another ethnoglobalist.




A temple. I heard the nice caretaker is 103. I hope she is alive so I can come back, have tea and chat with her.


This is one of the oldest cathedral in Hanoi. There is some tension between the Vietnamese government and the catholic church on the issue of privatization of public space, last year, I think. There were serious protests and such in the streets. Fortunately, the land now belongs to the public in the form of a library and park.




The waste system of Vietnam rests in the hands of these street sweepers. The government tried to implement a sort of recycling program but the Vietnamese people do not follow it. Maybe a more culturally sensitive approach might work. As for now, these underpaid ladies must scavenge though the waste of each house and street, organizing products of any value and by doing so they establish an efficient recycling system. Still, trash of no value still exists and currently, there is no effective and efficient method to solve the pollution problem.



While we were waiting for the bus, this lady approaches us and offer to sell some products. I took my first step at bargaining for a scissor. I know I still got overcharged but it was kind of fun. When asked to take a picture, she refuses, saying she is not beautiful. She is. Resilience is beautiful and admiring.