At 8 am you will leave our family guesthouse in the West Lake district for the Red River. After a short walk you cross a small bridge over a branch of the river and reach what is popularly called 'Banana Island'. That is not without reason because the walk continues along narrow paths surrounded by banana plants. But apart from that, you will see - partly depending on the season - corn, tomatoes, morning glory, among others. After you have crossed the island you reach the 'real', more than a kilometer wide river. If you wish, you can take a refreshing dip here. The walk continues to Miếu Hai Cô (the Temple of Two Women), a simple building built a decade ago, after two deceased women washed ashore, whose identities have never been established. Then you reach the Long Bien Bridge: a staircase leads you from the ground floor on the island to the bridge. It was designed at the time by Gustave Eiffel. It is clearly visible that this bridge suffered greatly during the war: large chunks of the original construction have disappeared, which were later repaired in a temporary manner. The bridge is now a rust bucket, used for bicycle and train traffic. You continue your way to the old center of Hanoi where you take a 'food tour' and visit various eateries and small restaurants to get acquainted with local culinary specialties. Finally, you return on foot to our family guesthouse and if time permits, you can - in consultation - visit the gardens of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and/or the Quan Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the way back.
