Vietnam — Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake), Đinh Tiên Hoàng (Lê Thái Tổ), Hoàn Kiếm, Thành Phố Hà Nội, Hanoi, Vietnam

Time for some early morning exercise

September 2015

An early 5:30 am start to the day, so early that as I was leaving the hotel, I almost stepped on the hotel manager, who was sleeping on the floor of the darkened lobby.

Why was I up so early?

Well, I had heard that Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake), Đinh Tiên Hoàng (Lê Thái Tổ), Hoàn Kiếm, Thành Phố Hà Nội was worth checking out as it was the place to go to see the locals ‘working-out’ in the morning. And I was not disappointed. The place was heaving.

Many people were out at 6 am exercising either on their own or in groups. And there was a range of exercises on display. Some people jogged, some were lifting waits, some danced, and some stretched and flexed. Some sat around, and others were praying. People were rubbing muscles and joints. There were slow movements and fast ones. There were even games of badminton on the go. Everyone seemed to have their little routine and way of starting the day, and they wanted to share it.

It was hot, even for 6 am. And the loud music being pumped out as people worked out made for an odd start to the day.

The first group I came across were doing an aerobic dance workout. They had loud music and a leader, yet everyone seemed to be doing their own thing.

Around Hoan Kiem Lake (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm), people seemed to be evenly spaced out (I wonder if they have the same spot every day?) as they stretched and flexed to greet the start of a new day.

I could see why people were drawn to the lake as it was calm and relaxing.

There were lovely flowers.

But, everywhere I looked, people were flexing, dancing and exercising.

This was possibly my favourite group — a group of seniors out exercising in their pyjamas — and why not?

Mind you, some of the exercises seemed less conventional than others.

Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm) first thing in the morning was a great way to start my first full day in Vietnam. I found the lake to be calm and relaxing, and it was great watching the locals do their early morning exercises and routines.

Foursquare: Hoan Kiem Lake