An exciting, vibrant, frenetic city, Hanoi is a must-see. We arrived on a late flight, going to bed at 2:00 am. However, the Old Quarter woke up at 5:00 am regardless! I looked out my window at first light and there was a fish seller, cutting and filleting fresh fish, right below my window. And when I say fresh, it was still alive. She had a battery-operated pump aerating a large holding tank. All on the back of her motorcycle. Easier to carry than ice! Hanoi is vibrant, alive, and initially a bit intimidating. It literally took us 10 minutes the first time we tried to cross the street. It felt like the game Frogger. Motorcycles whizzing by, taxis, and trucks, all seeming to be going full speed to get somewhere. Families of four on a motorcycle. Well-dressed Vietnamese women, in full-length gowns, elegant Áo dài or tunics, perched side-saddle, seemingly perfectly balanced. We saw one gentleman enter a busy roundabout, casually smoking a cigarette with one hand, and talking on the cell phone with the other. Not sure how he was steering. Hanoi’s Old Quarter was awesome, situated on a picturesque lake. Each street was more interesting than the next. Many inexpensive handicrafts, and knock-off paintings. One woman was painting a “reproduction “ looking at the original on her cell phone, and doing a pretty impressive copy!
We went to Thăng Long a famous Water Puppet Theatre. It was interesting, an elaborate story all told by articulated puppets, somehow controlled and operated under the water. The puppeteers were in the water. The was a beautiful orchestra musical accompaniment, including an amazing đàn bầu a one-stringed instrument that produced fabulous, haunting sounds.
An “offering” often drinks and food. An alter, typically to honor ancestors. Some may have a shrine to the Buddha too 
In case you were looking, they have them here……. 
