Postcard from Hanoi - Vietnam is open

I arrived in Hanoi just one week after the border opening in mid-March. At that point, most hotels, restaurants, and tourist shops that had previously catered to international travellers were closed. But when I returned even weeks later, things were opening up and the first international tourist arrivals could be seen on the streets.

In this Hanoi postcard, I share some of my first experiences returning to Hanoi - checking out the city, visiting friends and revisiting some favourite old places.

I was wondering about the impact of COVID on the travel industry. It's been severe of course - but the recovery was also evident. Hanoians know a lot about resilience.

Photo: Mark Bowyer Hanoi's streets are alive again

Photo: Mark Bowyer Hanoi's streetfood scene seems to have escaped the pandemic unscathed

Photo: Mark Bowyer Coffee with Nguyen Qui Duc in Hanoi

Photo: Mark Bowyer The new KOTO - near the old KOTO, at Van Mieu in Hanoi

Photo: Mark Bowyer KOTO founder Jimmy Pham shares a laugh with a KOTO student

Photo: Mark Bowyer The cars that powered an historic victory - a Soviet Volga at Hanoi Citadel

I met with Jimmy Pham from KOTO. The pandemic was especially tough for social enterprises. But Jimmy managed to open a new place in Hanoi's Tay Ho expat area.

If you're interested in knowing more about the work of KOTO or making a donation, head over to their website - https://www.koto.com.au/

I also met with friends Duc, and Nga and Liem to check in on how their tourism-exposed businesses were holding up.

I also visited a handful of old Hanoi favourites, the Temple of Literature and Hanoi Citadel.

Check out the full video.

The places featured in the video

KOTO Hanoi - Central Hanoi Van Mieu Hanoi / KOTO Villa - Tay Ho Hanoi
Temple of Literature Hanoi (Van Mieu) - historical site
Hanoi Citadel - historical site
Tadioto Hanoi - bar and eatery
Collective Memory Hanoi - gift shop