A sensory Hanoi

The motorbike symphony fades to a gentle hum as you duck into a narrow alley. Sunlight spears through the gaps between buildings, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air. The scent of grilling street food mingles with the damp earth and a hint of jasmine from a hidden flower stall. You brush past a woman balancing overflowing baskets of pink peach blossoms, their delicate petals brushing your arm. A cool breeze carries the soft murmur of Vietnamese chatter and the clinking of iced coffee glasses from a nearby cafe.