Cyclo Ride

On a sweltering hot and humid afternoon, we took a cyclo ride around the French Quarter of Hanoi. Some of its streets are still segregated into specific tradesmen and craftsmen, including the ironmongers, bamboo crafters, and even the undertakers.

Just about every inch of the Hanoi pavement is claimed for use in everyday streetlife - for selling goods, providing services, mini cafes, washing belongings - which can make walking difficult, forcing you onto the street itself. The cyclo ride is quite an experience as you are pushed out into the street first in your carriage ahead of your cyclist. It takes a while to get used to the hair-raising traffic and the rushing of scooters and taxis all around while you are slowly cycled around at walking pace but it affords an intimate, perhaps voyeuristic view into everyday Vietnamese life in the city .