Autumn specialties reach Hanoi streets
With its warm sun and cool breezes, autumn is the best time to visit Vietnam’s capital.
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| September means kids go back to school, and as the summer rains disappear, parents can chill out in the cool air that touches every corner of Hanoi. |
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| Autumn doesn’t have a fixed schedule, but the senses alert you to her arrival when you can smell sweet milk flowers and see venders selling golden apples on the streets. |
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| Most Vietnamese people don’t actually eat golden apples, they just buy them to enjoy their pleasant smell. |
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| Autumn is also dracontomelum season. The yellow fruits are more succulent and less sour at this time of year. |
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| Dracontomelum mixed with salt, sugar and chili is one of Hanoi’s autumn snacks that everyone should try on a visit to the city. |
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| The picture of autumn in Hanoi would be incomplete if there wasn’t 'com', sticky green rice. This kind of premature rice is wrapped in lotus leaves to give it a faint yet pleasant aroma. |
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| Hanoians have made a variety of dishes from 'com', such as sweet soup, stir fried and candy. |
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| 'Com' cakes are an integral part of engagement ceremonies in Northern Vietnam. Stuffed with green bean paste, the small cakes leave a sweat-scented flavor in the mouth. |
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| The most exquisite 'com' dishes can only be found in Hanoi. |
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| Hanoians also eat 'com' with ripe bananas. The sweetness of the bananas mingled with the sticky 'com' seems like an odd mix, but it’s actually a perfect combination. |
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| Autumn is also the season for yellow daisies. On every street, tiny yellow flowers start blooming, showering the city in a golden glow. |
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| Sitting by a lake enjoying a cup of hot tea in the cool breeze is one of the best ways to enjoy autumn in Hanoi. |
