Originally Posted by
thorpeflyer
Everyone has got their own travel tastes and interests, but I would strongly encourage you to look again at Hanoi. The French influence you are seeking is absolutely there--Metropole Hotel, Opera House--as is the shopping: plenty of Uncle Ho/Communist propaganda to buy. As a tourist, there is more to see in Hanoi--Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Hilton (not literally the hotel chain, as their is now one of those in the city), Ho Chi Minh's Mauseleum, the Capital, the French Quarter. Where Hanoi is cultured and romantic, HCMC is recklessly fast and urban. It is certianly a part of the country to see, but I question whether it truly stands on its own as a tourist site. I would also suggest that the attitudes, culture, even archetecture in HCMC are less indictative of what you'll find throughout the country. At least that was my observation.
They are certainly different cities, but each should be visited if you have time. Everybody has their favorite of the two. There are some fine examples of French Architecture still in HCMC. The Hanoi people dislike the HCMC people. Not sure if its jealousy or left over from the war, but if you're a Vietnamese from HCMC, they will treat you differently. HCMC may be fast, but the traffic in Hanoi is worse than HCMC, especially in the Old Quarter.