On the afternoon of Aug. 8, Tran Thanh Thao, 34, and three friends wandered around the Old Quarter, capturing moments as autumn arrived in Hanoi.
Their first stop was St. Joseph's Cathedral, which draws both locals and tourists from morning until night to watch the streets go by.
After that, the group parked their motorbikes and strolled through nearby streets like Tho Xuong and Chan Cam, taking in the old architecture. This gave Thao a sense of peace.
Normally, whenever she visits the Old Quarter, she only stops near the St. Joseph's Cathedral to take photos before moving on. This was the first time she ventured into the alleys in search of "a different Hanoi."
The further she walked, the more she was struck by the moss-covered rooftops and strings of colorful flags.
"If I'd just passed by, I probably wouldn't have noticed them," she says.
An elderly couple stroll together and smiling.
"Their smiles were so warm," Thao says.
A young couple walking hand in hand also caught Thao's attention.
Stopping by a shop in Tho Xuong Alley to take a photo, Thao views her weekend walk as a gift to herself after a work week.
Around the cathedral area, street food stalls also draw crowds. Most serve nem nuong - grilled pork sausage skewers. They are usually served with lemon tea or drink made with sweetened dracontomelon (sau) along with sliced fruits.
For two or three people it costs VND200,000 - VND300,000 (US$7.60 - 11.50).
Autumn is also associated with fruits and other familiar Hanoi treats such as thi (gold apple) and com or young green rice.
A kilogram of thi costs about VND80,000. Thao likes to buy and keep it at home every autumn for its fragrance.
Vong Village young green rice, one of Hanoi's famous specialties, also appears on the streets.
After two hours of photography, Thao and her friends rode their motorbikes to West Lake to catch the sunset. The photo was taken on Thanh Nien Street. Two months earlier, the trend of sunset-watching at West Lake had drawn large crowds.
