Wandering Through the Soul of Hanoi: Soumya Ranjan Thrillophilia Review
Soumya Ranjan had always been the kind of person who loved to plan, but this time the decision had been surprisingly spontaneous. After weeks of talking about where to go on a group trip, he, his close friend, both their wives and a family friend finally decided on Vietnam. Namrata was the first to bring it up, and the more they looked into it, the more Hanoi seemed like the perfect place for them to visit because of its history, culture, food, and scenery. Once they found out about Thrillophilia's packages, everything fell into place. They didn't have to worry about the details because their flights, hotels, guides, and activities were all planned out for them.
The fun started before they even landed as the flight itself was a blast. They looked out the window and the city was spread out below them, with red roofs, French colonial buildings. Hanoi's busy charm had already started to work its magic by the time they picked up their bags and drove into the city.
After checking in at the hotel on the first night, they went out together into the streets, a little tired from the travel but full of excitement. Motorcycles zipped through narrow alleys, and the smells of pho and grilled meat filled the air at food stalls. They went into the Temple of Literature with their guide. There were peaceful courtyards and old stone slabs that told stories of scholars from long ago.
There was eerie silence at Hoa Lo Prison, the cells, preserved torture devices, and pictures made them stop. Even Nirupama, the one who talked the most and was always making jokes, was left speechless. A tangible example of Vietnam’s history and resilience. Later, when they walked across Hoan Kiem Lake and stood on the red bridge that led to Ngoc Son Temple, the weight of what they saw lifted. Couples posed for pictures, and the group started laughing again as lanterns reflected on the water. Namrata held Jayashree's hand and said, "It feels like the city breathes differently here."
The next morning, their van drove through beautiful countryside on the way to Ninh Binh. The rice paddies that went on forever, the jagged limestone cliffs that stuck out of the ground, and the small homes that were tucked away in green valleys were all worth the trip. They went to Hoa Lu to see the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties. The courtyards were shaded by tall trees. Rohan, who was always interested in architecture, stayed behind to take pictures of stone lions covered in moss and dragon carvings.
Later came the best part, when they got into small wooden boats at Tam Coc. At first, the women were scared because the boats looked like it couldn’t hold the whole group and were gently swaying on the riverbank, but soon their fear turned into awe. They were surrounded by tall karsts and green fields as the boat moved smoothly along the Ngo Dong River. It seemed like the world was quiet, except for the soft sound of oars. A light rain started to fall, and it felt cool on their skin. They tilted their heads up and let the rain wash over them. The laughter echoed as the boat went through caves.
Then, they traded their boats for bikes and rode to Bich Dong Pagoda. Rohan and Soumya tried to race along the narrow village lanes, but the women rode at their own pace and stopped to wave at the kids who shouted hello. When they got to the pagoda, which was carved into the side of a mountain, their legs ached but their spirits were high. Inside the cool, dark shrines, incense curled around old statues, and the group stood quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.
Their next adventure was Halong Bay, which was very different from anything else they had done. They couldn't stop taking pictures of the emerald waters that seemed to go on forever as they boarded the cruise at Tuan Chau Marina. The boat slowly moved between limestone pillars that rose sharply from the sea. Rohan leaned against the railing on deck and took a lot of pictures.
The sky turned red and gold at sunset. The group stood on the deck with plates of food in hand, watching the last light fade away. They sang old Bollywood songs, played silly games, and danced until their feet hurt later that night. When they finally fell asleep in their cabins, the sound of soft waves rocked them to sleep.
The bay was bathed in soft sunlight when morning came. They felt better after doing Tai Chi on the deck, and their bodies moved in time with the waves. Later, while exploring Surprise Cave, they were amazed by the huge rooms lit by strange lights and the stalactites that looked like chandeliers.
On their last day, they stood on Ba Na Hills and looked at the famous Golden Bridge. Each of them felt the weight of the trip settling in. The bridge's huge stone hands looked like they were holding their memories, almost like they were holding them.
There was a quiet stillness in the cabin when the plane finally took off for home. They had started out as friends and family, but Vietnam had given them something more. It had turned the trip into a series of lived moments that they could never recreate, only remember.
Hanoi and beyond stayed with them long after they got home. They could taste pho, smell incense, hear laughter on boat rides, and see the calm of sunrise over Halong Bay.
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