Thursday, December 01, 2005

Guess What?

When you ride around Hanoi, sometimes strange things hit you or pass right in front of your face and shock you. Don't worry, these are only toys. The horses above are made to burn for our ancestors and for luck. Many different objects that our ancestors may need, wherever they are, are put together. These horses are of bamboo and are covered by paper of different colors. This kind of custom is popular in Vietnam and other parts of Asia.

What about these? Are they the biggest stubby holders for beer that you've ever seen? Not really, these are tea pot holders which are common all over the streets of Hanoi, out of which old ladies sell 500 dong cups of tea at their pavement teashops.

Both the tea pot warmers and horses are made from bamboo but the middle of the holders are made from fabric to keep the tea hot. Buying from these people who ride around the streets might be cheaper than in the shop but you have to be careful with the quality. When buying the tea holders, make sure you buy one that has been soaked in water as bamboo has insects which will ruin it after a week or so.

26 comments:

High Power Rocketry said...

Now that you speak of it, my tea has been getting cold lately :)

R2K..Bathrooms..Rocketry

krisTi said...

i find your site very very interesting. i've always wanted to visit vietnam, just haven't had the chance to. my nieces and nephews lived there for about a year and they somewhat enjoyed it. but yea..looking at the yummy food surely make me enjoy being a vietnamese. nice work!

Nhan H. Nguyen said...

Nice Site, didnt find the time yet to read everything. But I will!
Couldnt find a guestbook...

best regards from germany,
Nhan

Hepzibah The Watchman said...

Hello from the other side of the world. Loved your site and the pictures.

Charlotte Rova-Roth said...

good morning, your blog is soooo interesting! i love it! i have it in my favorites now and will visit your blog regularly!
Best wishes form switzerland
Charlotte

Anonymous said...

Hello

I have always wondred what these horses were as I used t see them on Hang Chao by the truck and motorcycle load. Great colours and stacked one upon anothere, I have always been intrigued. Thanks For the info. Fantastic as always

HappySurfer said...

Hi, very interesting site - informative and great pictures.

shaz said...

Hi vietgod
I cant wait to visit hanoi (which im doing so in 2 days!!!) Although the bird flu and all has caused a damper on our trip. we still can't wait to go... I'm a real foodie and the main reason for going to hanoi is for the food and coffee. And maybe a little sightseeing (if i can walk after all that eating)
shaz (from singapore

Anonymous said...

you should do some freelance tour guiding! esp for foodies!
thinking of dropping by wildrice (after reading your rave reviews)
shaz from singapore

Domestic Goddess said...

I love Vietnam, you are lucky to have the best tasting Yoghurt in the known world, I also miss your puddings and that terrible tourist Bia Hoi. Lucky Lucky Oh and who can forget the white roses of Hoi An, yum yum

Mousse said...

yes, finally a site in english from Vietnam and also great stories. Groeten uit Holland.

Vagabonder said...

Definitely a cool site, love it. Keep writing!!!

Anna said...

Your blog is always a good read - Thanks! I recently discovered your site and I'm forever hooked. Keep it up, VG.

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Todd Vodka said...

you guys have the coolest looking bicycles over there. I want to move imediately.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome site! I stopped by and next thing I know I'd spent an hour reading and looking at photos.

Very cool to see how people live on the other side of the world.

Dutch
www.thedigitalbalst.com

OzzO said...

Oh, your blog is amazing! I´ve never heard about vitnamese traditions, but is very interesting. You´ve made very informative blog and you use such a clear English that I can´t realize if you're american or not..
Greettings form the dark side of the third world, Argentina!

Van Cong Tu said...

Hello All!
It is hard for me to reply to all of your comments separately. Let me just say that I am overwhelmed by all of your interest in my country and my observations.
Cheers!

Michael Donovan said...

Dude, you have a good blog. The pictures are great.

MJD

Michael Walton said...

I met another strange person at the bus stop

Jean said...

I went three times in Hanoï, 1998, 2000 and 2003. I adore your country, his culture, the at the same time simple and strong character of his inhabitants. The landscapes, the buildings, all is beautiful. I often look at your blog, I have the feeling to be a little with Hanoï.

Anonymous said...

wow what a wonderfull pic blog

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Nicholas said...

Great blog. Very interesting to me in the United States.

Nutmeg said...

please write more about how it is in Vietnam. How Vietnamese think, what upsets them, what is culturally acceptable or frowned upon. What do young people do?

Van Cong Tu said...

Hi,
Is that me in the bus stop?
Jean, are you coming back to Hanoi really soon?
Nutmeg5, I am trying to find more things but it takes time and not that easy.