Simple things that make Hanoi beautiful in autumn

Flowers for sale by a vendor on a Hanoi street. Old vehicles laden with a variety of blooming flowers are like a piece of the colourful mosaic of Hanoi streets in autumn. This season, which lasts from early September to November, has the most comfortable weather in a year as the heat is no longer as intense as in summer while heavy rains are a thing of the past. Instead, dry cool winds reach every corner of the city, signaling Hanoians that autumn has come. In fact, street vendors are present in Hanoi all year round, and they form part of the local attractiveness. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

An old motorbike of a street vendor seems to be dwarfed by a wide range of colourful flowers. Hanoi is beautiful in autumn not only because of tree-lined streets blanketed with fallen yellow leaves or the comfortable cool but also the flowers in full bloom carried across the city by vendors. The pink of lotus bulbs and roses, the white of daisies, the yellow of sunflowers, or the orange of bird-of-paradise flowers all adorn the capital city and make Hanoi more charming in the eyes of both local residents and visitors. The items sold by street vendors are also indicative of what season Hanoi is in. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Most of the flowers sold on Hanoi streets are grown in the city’s suburban areas or neighbouring provinces. The sellers are also from those areas and come to the capital in a bid to earn a living. However, they and the items they sell contribute to Hanoi’s attractiveness. A vending vehicle laden with colourful flowers is enough to pull busy city dwellers out of a vibrant Hanoi and help them enjoy a slower pace of life. Flowers need to be watered regularly to stay fresh during the long day carried along Hanoi streets. The city is more romantic and appealing thanks to these ‘mobile’ flower shops. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

'Com’ (young sticky rice flakes) with light fragrance is another symbol of Hanoi in autumn. It is a must-have snack for Hanoians whenever the season comes. To many, the green, fragrant, and light sweet flakes contain the entire quintessence of nature. 'Com' is made of young sticky rice reaped in either 'chiem' (harvested in the fifth lunar month) or 'mua' (harvested in the 10th lunar month) crops, but it is most delicious when the ingredient is 'nep cai hoa vang', an indigenous rice variety. People in Hanoi often use the rice of the 'mua' crop to make 'com' as it will give the dish a better taste. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Many have said staying in the capital without savouring 'com' would be a major shortcoming of the Hanoi experience. 'Com' is an indispensable dish in the culinary culture of Vietnam. The dish is considered a gift of the wet rice culture and the quintessence of nature. 'Com' and 'banh com' have also become special souvenirs visitors bring home whenever they set foot in the capital city. For most Hanoians, 'com' and its related products are among the capital's most important flavours of autumn, packed full of nostalgia. It is a symbol of gastronomy and elegance due to its signature colour, flexibility and flavour that similar products from nowhere else can compete with. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A vendor sells ‘com’ on a street in Hanoi. Making young sticky rice flakes is a meticulous process in which producers invest their wholehearted efforts. Skill and hard work are needed to make authentic 'com', which must be flat, lime-green, chewy, sticky and smell pleasant like the scent of green rice. The speciality is sold by street vendors or in shops. It can also be found on many hotels in Hanoi's breakfast or buffet menus. With its special sweetness and nutty flavour further enhanced by lotus leaves, 'com' is a delicacy embedded with the quintessence of Hanoi's original cuisine that every visitor to the capital city should try. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A tree turns yellow in Hanoi autumn. When autumn comes, the weather turns cool with gentle breezes and golden sunlight. This time of the year, Hanoi has a romantic and dreamy beauty that can charm anyone setting foot here. People can see many various types of flowers sold on local streets this season such as lotus, daisies or yellow roses. In particular, when it comes to Hanoi’s autumn, milk flower is one of the most memorable things as tiny white blossoms and their passionate fragrance can leave both visual and olfactory impression on every person. Most of flowers sold on Hanoi streets are grown in the city’s suburban areas or neighbouring provinces. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A tree-lined street in Hanoi. Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi has been listed among the 12 best places worldwide to travel this fall by CNN Travel, which wrote that Asia tourism generally has been the slowest to bounce back, but Vietnam ‘is the real bright spot right now.’ It noted autumn in the city is drier and cooler after the monsoon season. However, Hanoi has plenty to keep foodies satiated. ‘Cha ca’ (fish cooked with turmeric and dill) is so popular that a street was named after the dish. Hanoi-style ‘banh tom’ (shrimp cakes) is another must-try. In recent years, the city has been continually hailed as one of the most attractive destinations in the region and the world. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Yellow leaves fall on a Hanoi street in autumn. In its article that listed the 12 best places worldwide to travel this fall, CNN Travel highly recommended visitors ramble around the city's Old Quarter with its historical streets and shops trading in jewellery, fabrics and flowers. It said a motorbike tour through the quarter dotted with ancient houses, French colonial buildings, cafes and food stalls is also a must-try experience. It also encouraged tourists to drop by Dong Ngac, a ‘village of scholars’ on the outskirts of Hanoi that has barely changed in centuries. It's one of a few villages in Hanoi to retain its cultural features and historical architectural style despite the impacts of rapid urbanisation. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A vendor sells persimmon on a street in Hanoi. When dry cool winds reach every corner of the city, Hanoians know that autumn, known as the best season in the city, has come. Apart from flowers, fruits are also among popular items sold on vending bicycles in the capital city. Crunchy persimmon is one of the most favourite fruits of local residents once autumn comes thanks to its light fragrance and unique taste. People can easily find typical flowers and fruits of each season in Hanoi, and that’s why the items sold by street vendors can tell what season the capital city is in. (Photo: VietnamPlus)