At 5am, you will be met at your hotel and start walking to the 36-street Old Quarter. Enjoy the early morning departure that gives you a chance to experience the streets before they become a hectic bustle. On the walk, you'll see various alleys, streets and walkways as well as special tunnel houses that are very dark and narrow. The area is packed with local residents, many living with 3 or 4 generations in one house. Your guide will share the lives of the people living there as you get a peek into the early life of the city.
You will then visit Hanoi Cathedral (or Saint Joseph's Cathedral) which was inaugurated on Christmas Day in 1886 after a 2-year construction. Its design is similar to the architecture of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. As in the past, many catholic rituals are held there including a ceremony dedicated to Jesus Christ that is held every year on March 19th.
By 6:30am, you will arrive at Hoan Kiem Lake and join in an exercise with the local people. Ho Chi Minh preached that all Vietnamese should exercise every day - take part in the social experience. There is an area in the park where people practice dancing as well with an opportunity to dance with them if you're interested.
Afterward, you will be introduced to some popular local breakfast options such as "pho ga" (noodle soup with chicken), "pho bo" (noodle soup with beef), "banh cuon" (steamed rice thin rolling pancake) as well as others. Enjoy a morning beverage as well such as coffee or iced green tea with lemon. By 8:30am, you will be on your way back to your hotel with the rest of the day ahead of you.
