Winter in Hanoi this year came unusually late. It was the end of November but the weather was still as sunny as summer, everyone said to each other: "Maybe there won't be a winter this year". But just a few days later, the cold suddenly came, making everyone surprised and shocked. But everyone knows that the early cold of the season is a characteristic of Hanoi that anyone who goes far away misses and longs for winter to come.
Winter is cold but still romantic in each person's own way.
This year, winter came unusually late, making everyone look forward to it.
In Hanoi, winter is unmistakable. The early cold of the season here is completely different from the cold in other places. If Saigon only has rainy and dry seasons, with little experience of winter, then the cold in Hanoi is a cold that “cuts the skin, cuts the flesh”.
The leaves also change color to welcome winter.
Winter streets have a very distinctive color that makes people feel comfortable and also makes them want to slow down a bit.
For those who are far away from home but have spent many years living in Hanoi, winter often leaves them with many memories. When they are in the capital, it seems normal, but only when they are far away do they feel the longing and nostalgia.
Typically, when I posted a short video of Hanoi streets this season on social networks, a few friends who used to live in Hanoi but are now working far away all exclaimed that "I miss Hanoi so much". Especially the atmosphere at this time makes everyone excited and eagerly waiting for something. It is also possible that this is the time closest to many holidays such as Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year... so the feeling is very special.
The cold in Hanoi is sometimes so cold it "cuts the skin and flesh"
In the early winter, in the freezing cold weather, there are many things worth trying. For example, there is nothing better than eating a hot bowl of pho, sipping a cup of egg coffee and watching the streets. Or enjoy some afternoon snacks, such as mugwort eggs, fried banh chung, hot banh duc, or a bowl of banh troi tau, a bowl of rib porridge sold on the sidewalk...
Not to mention the winter evenings, the whole street is lined with rows of steaming grilled corn and sweet potatoes. There is nothing better than taking a walk around Hanoi to breathe in the city air, then stopping to enjoy the rich taste of grilled sweet potatoes and chatting about everyday life.
Daisies appearing on the streets also signal the coming of winter.
Enjoy a bowl of hot banh troi tau combined with the spicy taste of ginger
However, the capital still hides somewhere the romance that only those who truly understand can feel the beauty of Hanoi's winter.
Hanoi is usually bustling, but when winter comes, everything seems to slow down and become more gentle. But somewhere in the hustle and bustle of life, there are still a few humble street stalls selling hot tea, ginger candy, peanut candy, as a unique feature of Hanoi winter. The sweet cold sometimes penetrates the skin, wearing thin clothes can easily make shivers spread throughout the body through the blowing wind.
The car carrying all kinds of flowers runs around the streets.
All over the streets, flower carts pass by. But with daisies, it seems like they are awakened when winter comes, a species that only blooms once a year and only in Hanoi. The small, white flower symbolizes purity, elegance, and gentleness, just like the people of Trang An.
Winter Hanoi is dressed in a sad yet romantic color scheme. For those who have lived here for a long time, witnessed many winters come and go, Hanoi presents a lyrical scene, full of emotions and nostalgia.
Winter puts on a sad but romantic scene
Winter in Hanoi is beautiful and extremely poetic. You have to experience it to truly feel its beauty and romance. And then when you go far away, a vague nostalgia for the capital just arises.
Even if I go to the four corners of the world
Still miss Hanoi...
