People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

By Quynh Nguyen, Tung Dinh   October 17, 2022 | 10:34 pm PT
With fallen yellow leaves along sidewalks heralding the coming of autumn, Hanoians are flocking outdoors to capture the romance of the season and eat specialty foods.
People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

People ride bicycles one early morning as the sun shines over the West Lake.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Autumn sunlight dyes a tree-lined street in downtown Hanoi golden.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

The sun shines through ancient sau (dracontomelum) trees on Phan Dinh Phung Street in Hanoi.

Most dracontomelum trees on Phan Dinh Phung Street are centuries old.

The street is also home to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO world heritage site, and rows of villas built during French colonial times.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Young people flock to Phan Dinh Phung Street to take photos under the giant trees on Monday.

Photographers abound here in autumn.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Autumn is also an occasion for people to wear the ao dai, Vietnam's national costume, on the streets for photos.

According to locals, Phan Dinh Phung Street is crowded with people coming to take photos from the beginning of October as the dracontomelum trees start shedding their leaves.

Over the past two weekends several hundred people have come to take pictures since 7 a.m.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Nguyen Thanh Thuy, 61, who has lived in Europe for 35 years, is in Vietnam for a visit.

Before the pandemic she would usually visit in October every year to see friends and experience the cool of autumn season, but was unable to do so during the two years of the pandemic.

"Taking photos in an ao dai in the early morning brings me memories of my school life at Phan Dinh Phung High School," she said.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

A foreign tourist poses with a vendor's bicycle full of fresh flowers.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Xoi com (sticky rice) is a signature autumn dish in Hanoi. You can find street vendors selling it around the Old Quarter at the beginning of Phan Dinh Phung Street and Ly Quoc Su Street.

People hit the streets to enjoy Hanoi autumn

Hoa sua, or milk flower, is an autumn highlight of the capital, blooming and exuding a magnificent fragrance between early September and November.

 
 
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