FAQs for Intercon Impex

Below is an excerpt of the conversations with the founder of Intercon Impex, Mr Vinod Jhunjhunwala to give you answers for the most frequently asked questions.

1. What is the inspiration that has led you to the formation of Intercon Impex? What has helped you to develop throughout your journey to become one of the most renowned exporters of dried flowers and dried plant products?

~ Intercon was started in the year 1992 with a vision to strive to offer the finest selection of quality natural products at the right prices and a high level of service to our esteemed clientele. Our love for natural products & decorative have always been a driving force in the journey. We constantly want to innovate and come up with new ideas & designs for our customers. Since our inception we have moved step by step further to reach our vision and we still believe, every day we learn something new about the industry and our customers. We have had an excellent team to support us through this journey. The coming year we will complete 25 years in the industry and we plan to introduce some major developments by end of next year.

2. You are one of the most experienced and well-known exporters of dried flowers in India, how do you think the dried flower export industry has evolved?

~ The industry is much more competitive now, when we started 25 years ago the products and competition were limited. The industry on the whole has evolved in terms of designs, packaging and customization. In our organization, our product range has evolved through the time. Our product range now includes exclusive dried flower bouquets, wreaths, potpourri mixes, candles, aluminium vases, iron baskets, jute bags, accessories etc. all available in customized packing as per the requirement of the customer. There are much more color options that we provide now than we did some years back, we are also trying some unique customized color shades. Packaging is the future and now customers usually are wanting all items in custom packing solutions with branding etc. 

3. In today’s world, when machines are used to do almost everything, you are changing the scene with adding human touch to the process. Why do you prefer that?

~ Each product we offer has a human touch to it. We believe this adds a personal aspect to the product. Every bouquet/wreath made is handmade by carefully picked elements by each of our skilled designers. Our designers understand the international standards and tastes to implement on the various products. We provide a variety of 2000 plus items of Indian origin, gathering raw materials locally from all over India. Our product categories include: Dried flowers, potpourris & bouquets, parts of plants, floral accessories, LED Candles, Iron Products, Picture frames, jute products and terra-cotta products. We work closely with our selected team of growers to supervise quality control. Our in-house bleaching, coloring, and bouquet production team takes special care to meet superior quality requirements. We have a reputation for outstanding customer service, competitive pricing and timely delivery. Packing is of good quality and can be customized.

4. Which countries are the major importers of your product?

~ Intercon currently exports majorly in the North American & European Markets. We are currently exporting to over 20 countries across the globe including USA, Netherlands, Spain, UK & more. We plan to expand our customers across 30 countries by end of next year to sell our product range of over 2000 products. 

5. What are the new developments that are coming up?

~ There’s a lot happening on the field and we are working on new ideas for our customers. Firstly, we have begun our production & shipment from South India early this year to cater to our increase in production capacity and product line up. Secondly, we are increasing our products line up to finished products like bouquets, wreaths etc. and various accessories for décor like vases, candles etc. You will soon be able to see these products on our company website. Most orders ship within 2 to 4 weeks subject to seasonal availability. We plan and carry sufficient inventory to avoid disruption in service that may occur due to poor weather and crop failures.We are expanding rapidly with new designs of Sola Flowers, which is one of our largest segments of business. 

6. So, you have started operations from South India. Why you have chosen that location?

~ Intercon Impex has grown its production capacity in the last 4 years. There are a couple
of reasons for us to start operations in south India. Firstly, We have many products in our mix that are essentially products of South India. Hence, it gives us the localisation advantage to start production in South India which help save us costs & decrease the turnaround time. Secondly, the weather conditions in south India are very favorable for our line of products. A combination of these advantages and our increasing need for capacity makes it ideal for us and our customers that we operate over 40% operations & productions from South India. This would enable us to reduce production time, improve quality, reduce costs and complete our shipments faster.

7.What can your clients expect from the new developments?

~ We believe in building long term relationships with our client & we understand that
the need of the hour post the corona pandemic is availability of products at the right time & right price. Our clients will very soon have a host of new products that we can offer them in customized options. Faster shipments will now be possible as a result of our team working on making seamless operations. Our clients from the USA & Canada can also now directly call us on our dedicated local United States number +1 213 814 322. It will surely improve our communication with them. 

Create Magic with Dried Flowers

Fresh flowers & plants are one of the best gifts that nature has given to mankind. From soothing fragrance to vivid colors, flowers touch our mind and senses on a deeper level. Flowers are dried so that their cheerful & aesthetic appeal is preserved. Dehydrated flowers are used for various purposes, from home decoration to gifts. One can create magic with these preserved bounties of nature. 

Here are a few ways you can use dried flowers:

Home decoration
If you love to create DIY home decorations or if you want to beautify your house for any special occasion, preserved flowers can serve as your helping hand. Decorating your home with dried blooms is easy and the effects achieved are breathtakingly beautiful. You can create a dried flower backdrop by arranging dried flowers on the wall. This not only attracts attention but also adds a spring-like feel to your house. For those who want to plan a warm and romantic Valentine’s Day celebration at home, walls decorated with dry flowers combined with proper lighting, can be the perfect background for the Valentine’s Day selfie. You and your special one will remember the fragrant valentine date for years to come.

One way could be to arrange dried flowers inside the clear or colored glass bottles or jars; and then place them in your room or other places in your house as decoration. These are alluring and give a fairy-tale look to your house. You can also get creative and add fairy lights inside that jar or bottle as well. You can place lace or gossamer fabric with dried flowers in order to make the decorative jars more feminine.

Potpourri made with dried flowers and dried plant parts can be used both as decoration and provide natural fragrance. Flowers that are dried can be used along with other dried plant parts to create exotic bunches or bouquets. Wreaths made of dry flowers and other plant parts are elegant door decorations.

Beauty
If you love to unwind in the bathtub, sprinkle some dry flower petals in the bath water and soak yourself in the aroma. Add dried petals in the water that is being used for manicure and pedicure. You can also make homemade spa soaps using dried flowers. Your homemade soap will not only be visually pleasing but would also be filled with natural fragrance. Dried flowers gently exfoliate the skin. Dry flower petals are also added as ingredients of natural homemade face, body and hair mask. It is a good way to get benefits for nature’s goodness to your beauty care routine.

Gifts
If you love to surprise friends and family with personalized gifts, then you should incorporate dried flowers to accentuate the charm of your gifts. You can use them for gift wrapping ideas or to make expressive cards. You will surely create a long-lasting impression in the minds of your loved ones.

Apart from the above mentioned points, dried flowers can be used to make candles. They are also used to make crowns, hair bands, bracelets and other jewelry to achieve fairy tale and feminine look. Sachets and potpourris made with preserved flowers are natural insect repellents and air fresheners. They are good for closets and drawers. You can use dried flowers to add a pleasant and appealing touch to your life and of those around you. Shop Now at Intercon Impex Pvt Ltd. 

Top 5 ideas to spice up your potpourri

Buy Potpourri & Home Fragrances

If you want to ramp up the insides of your home in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way, then bulk potpourri is a perfect solution for you. As potpourri is 100% natural, it not only makes the environment eco-friendly, but also freshens up our body & mind and enhances energy in ourselves after a day’s hard work.

Isn’t it great to invigorate your senses with a burst of fresh perfumed air as soon as you step into your room? Obviously, everyone will agree with it. There are a number of DIY recipes available on the internet. You can use the remedies to experience this awesome feeling. One can spice up their potpourri by putting some more ingredients into it. The below article is about the process and ingredients that can make potpourri more effective. If you are interested to make a different type of potpourri or you want to know more about it, all you need to do is to scroll down and read the whole article.

Exotic Spices

1. Essential oils:
One of the best ways to rejuvenate your home environment is to use essential oils. It is amazing to take the fragrance of a tantalizing mixture of clove, lavender, peppermint and chamomile after a gruelling day at the office. As soon as you open the door, a heady and flavourful essence fills up your senses and makes you feel refresh. The fragrance is enough to revitalise you from a depressed and weighed down mood. If you are planning to have a spa at home, essential oil is just perfect, as it provides your home with the aura of spa.

2. Dried fruits and nuts:
Some other ingredients that can make your potpourri awesome are dried fruits and nuts. You can put some berries and nuts in the combo. Some orange peels can be dropped into the bowl, or you can drop a handful of acorns, almonds or junipers into the mix, which can spice your potpourri up.

3. Scented water:
It can be quite surprising for you to know that potpourri can be spiced up with scented water, while we all know that potpourri is made of bone dry things. And it is also known that the slightest of moisture can be the reason of infected potpourri. But the truth is, one can make alternative potpourri that includes nuts, pine cones, wood pieces and other paraphernalia that are soaked in scented water. In order to get the water, all one should do is to heat oils and simmer herbs extracts in low temperature.

Ata Slices

4. Cranberry delight:
Any kind of citrus fruits, cranberry and rosemary can be put together in a pan in low heat to get the aroma that may cause your olfactory organs to go into tizzy.

5. Spices and flowers: 
Dried spices and flowers are mixed together in required portion that are used as an effective remedy for deep and sound sleep. One can get dried flowers in any florist store, nursery, orchards or garden.

You can buy the latest collections of home fragrances, potpourri, essential oils, diffuser oils and more at www.interconimpex.com or email them at sales@interconimpex.com. 

Vanakkam Kolkata !!

Vanakkam Kolkata !!

I am back with another experience to share. These are challenging times around the world, where we are fighting with probably the biggest crisis ever in modern times, the novel covid-19, Coronavirus. Since, travelling is banned across the globe and we are stuck at our homes in a lockdown, this one is not about travel, it’s about my second favorite thing to do EAT.

Sometimes I wish I could just become a food taster in a popular show like Masterchef Australia, where I just have to taste different types of food and cough out some fancy foodie words and judgements :) So some months back I did my own little food tour of one of my favorite cuisines South Indian food !! The aromatic smell of curry leaves, tangy chutney, filter coffee, South Indian for me is my comfort food, it’s my Sunday afternoon staple, it’s the meal that gets me to a peaceful afternoon siesta. My hometown Kolkata is known to be a foodie paradise and I explored my 6 favorite south Indian restaurants in Kolkata.

1. Jyoti Vihar - It’s hands down my favorite South Indian restaurant. I have been visiting the place for over 20 years now and it’s safe to say that each dish still has the same taste and flavors. They haven't played around much with there menu over the years, they stick to their favorites and are unbeatable in their best dishes. It’s amazingly simple interiors and age old serving people make this place a traditional favorite. My most treasured dish here is the brown crisp donut like rice preparation, Medu Vada. My favorite way to have it is by dipping it in hot sambhar, they serve a variety in which the vada is already dipped in sambhar for a while to soak in the flavours of the sambhar.

2. Raj - Another one of the oldest South Indian joints of Kolkata. Serving in traditional South Indian steel utensils, with the serving staff dressed in simple uniform with a small towel on the shoulder (a South Indian style) the place makes you feel the essence of southern India. The place is called homely raj , and it houses a hotel in the top floors. The place is best known for its South Indian thali, it’s sumptuous meal with favorite delicacies like rasam, buttermilk, South Indian veggies and of course pappadum. The servings are generous, specially for the Thali, they will not stop serving you unless they are confident that you are full & satisfied :) A must visit for every South Indian cuisine lover.

3. Ramakrishna Mission (Bhupendra Mansion) - Dosas , idlis and Medu vadas are one of the favorite breakfast meals for many people across the globe. This place is the best for South Indian food breakfast. It opens at 6am and shuts close to 1pm everyday, you can mostly find morning walkers and early risers. A very simple seating arrangement with an even simpler menu. You can visit the place every morning and have the same dishes every day but I am sure you still will be craving for more. The highlight in the menu is of course the idlis. The rice cakes are so soft that they will melt in your mouth. I usually prefer having the idlis with coconut chutney and molga podi (spicy powder with ghee) on the side.

4. Sankalp - Its the modern day twist to South India cuisine. Though many restaurants and brands have tried South Indian fusion but never has it been so on point. The restaurant has chains across the globe and is known for maintaining its consistency in every dish through time & geographies. A fun interior with vibrant blue and yellow furniture the place is perfect for a family lunch. The menu has interesting variants of the traditional dosa & idlis like the kanchipuram & chettinad idlis, indian bhaji dosa, nilgiri dosa and more. My favorite is the Cocktail Idlis, this one is similar to the Podi Idlis commonly found in South India. The rice cakes are wrapped in ghee and molgai podi to give it a crunchy & spicy flavor. Another 1 of my treasured items here is the military ghee roast dosa, a ghee roast is again very popular in south India, they use it to make veggies and curries in slow roasted ghee. The use of this in the dosa surely enhances the flavor of the dosa.

5. The Chutney Co. - Another modern day south India cafe at the heart of the commercial hub in Kolkata. Evident from its name the chutney company is famous for the variety of chutneys it offers. So, when you place your orders along with the regular coconut chutney the restaurant serves you with 8-10 varieties of chutneys including tamarind, beetroot chutney, tomato coconut, mysore chutney etc. Each has a distinct flavor and adds a refreshing twist to your favorite cuisines. The rawa dosa is another must have here. The mocktails and shakes are very interestingly curated. To finish a sumptuous meal do try the traditional filter coffee.

6. Rasam - For the longest time, Salt Lake area in Kolkata did not have a dedicated South Indian eatery. Finally, came along Rasam located inside the Stadel Hotel, which is part of the Salt Lake Football Stadium. Rasam is a spicy south indian soup served hot along with south Indian meals. The name of the restaurant is surely justified by the amazing tasty Rasams they offer. I usually drink it as a soup but many people like to have it with steam rice as well. The ambiance is good which servers dressed in white shirts and white lungi . It overlooks the lush greens around the football stadium. I love the buttermilk here, its a finely prepared curd with south Indian herbs, ginger & green chilly. The coriander dosa is also a very interesting preparation here, the use of coriander brings a completely new flavor to the traditional dosas.


Nothing brings people together like food does. I hope this pandemic situation resolves quickly and we can return to our favorite restaurants to indulge in the best food preparations across India. Until then, stay safe and stay indoors.

Cheers !!

Let's do the Haarlem Shake !!!

My tryst with travel goes way back to when I was a kid. Every moment I would find to travel I would grab on with both my feet. The idea of exploring new places, food, people & cultures have all been very fascinating to me since the beginning. Though I haven't travelled a lot but the little trips that I have made, made me think that I should account some of the details. 

So the place I want to write about is Haarlem - This small iconic town is approximately 100 kms from Amsterdam. You can visit the place by road or train. Coincidentally the first Intercity railway connection in Netherlands was between Amsterdam and Haarlem. The city of Haarlem screams about it's medeival culture and aesthetics. We were lucky to have a friend with us who was equally inquisitive to explore the town and was well versed with the cultures of Holland. Fun fact - “Haarlem Shake” the famous song is actually based in a town in the USA with the same name - Haarlem. It was named by the Dutch when they went from Haarlem to the USA. 

It was an overcast day and we arrived by a car to the town. Since it's a small town we decided to park the car and explore the place on foot. The city is well planned and easy to navigate using Google maps or the city map available in all shops.

Yummy in my Tummy 

When in the market you definitely can’t resist the yummy street food of Holland, first up was Kibbeling, it’s a popular Dutch snack consisting of battered chunks of fish commonly served with mayonnaise based garlic or tartar sauce. My love for fried food just quadrupled after having this one. Next, I tried another popular fish based finger food called herrings. It is a raw herring fish soaked in vinegar, sometimes the marinade may contain cider, wine or herbs. Other than these you should definitely grab your hands at the traditional French fries which are famous across Holland. 

One of the counters of the market serves delicious freshly baked pizza tossed right in front of you. For desserts, you should visit any small cafe, the smell of cinnamon (commonly used in most desserts in Holland) will surely mesmerise you. You must try the apple cake and the Dutch cookie. 

Exploring Haarlem 

St Bavo Church - So right at the centre you come across a must visit gothic styled Protestant church- St Bavo. There is something pleasant and beautiful about this one when you see exquisitely decorated wooden ceilings, stained glass work all across the walls depicting the ancient times and historic artefacts around the church. One of the most interesting facts is the beautiful organ that is placed in the church, it was once played by Mozart himself when he was 10, it is still played at regular intervals. However, the most interesting fact was that the floors of the church were actually graves, where people were buried along the times. Earlier times, people of Haarlem were actually allowed to be buried in the church. Spooky as it may sound but yeah people walk on them and you can actually see the name of the people buried on the floors. Now, I believe due to shortage of space people have started to cremate. 

City Hall - Next up is the City Hall, it’s a very short tour but totally worth your time as they have some nice artefacts from the earlier times of Haarlem and they have a very nicely made movie to show you about the history of Haarlem and why it was an important town for the trade route of Holland. 

Grote Market - In dutch , Grote means Grand. This big market was in the centre right next to the St. Bavo Church. A very popular place and since it was a weekend it had many families who had come there for shopping and eating food etc. Being brought up in India I am well aware of bustling markets called bazaar here, I got to experience a  typical Saturday market in Haarlem. Families were celebrating Saturday afternoon by coming out to explore the market. 

Frans Hals Museums - I’m not a very big fan of museums but this one surely was worth while. So as the name suggests, the museum is named after Frans Hals the famous Dutch painter, after his death he was also buried in the St Bavo church that I was talking about earlier. The museum was home to many famous painter’s works. Depicting paintings and portraits of different ages and time zones p, wars, life at the palaces and much more. 

Teylers Museum - Teylers museum was another popular stop during the visit to Haarlem. This museum had real artefacts from the history of Haarlem and Holland. It housed all kinds of weapons, war & military artefacts and much more. 

Molten de Adrian - Holland is famous for its windmills and this one is a special one. Overlooking the water body it looks serene to be near the windmill. It also has the medieval machines still intact which were used to pull the boats on to the shores. A fascinating experienced for sure. 

Hofjes - These are actually beautiful garden courtyard homes spread across the town. We had spotted an interesting hofjes that was actually an old age home and I can safely say, what a home to retire !!

Shopping - While exploring the cobbled streets of Haarlem, you come across many cool and edgy fashion wear by the local designers. The famous Holland shoes are also available in shops here.

I hope you liked my small attempt to highlight some of the amazing moments I had in my trip to Haarlem. I will see you soon in my next travelogue.

Cheers !!

Anant

A Vietnamese Escapade

"So much of who we are is where we have been" 

The hustle bustle of Ho Chi Minh City , old town feels of Hoi An and the warm cultures of Hanoi. Vietnam is a perfect mix of experiences that has something for everyone. Its been overdue for a long time, that I wanted to blog about my travel escapades !! I thought I would start with this one. So below I mention a small snapshot of the places that I recommend for every traveler to Vietnam, of course each person has separate interests so your likings may differ from mine but I have just mentioned my point of view. I missed out on a few locations which I also mention briefly. FYI this is my first attempt at blogging so please pardon my mistakes.

Ho Chi Minh City

Since I explored the country from South to North my first stop was Ho Chi Minh City , previously known as Saigon. The city is full of life and bustling with energy. 

Sight Seeing

War Museum: You enter the place all happy seeing actual tanks , helicopters etc that were left over by the US Army after the infamous Vietnam War, but as you progress and visit the museum you are bound to feel extremely sad for the horrific life during & after the war for the people of Vietnam. I felt happy seeing India's name in the list of countries that revolted and more so a Bengali poster showing a protest in Calcutta against the war. It is inspiring to see how the country and its people lifted themselves up after the mammoth war and rebuild Vietnam to such a beautiful country. 

Reunification Palace: We then moved a few metres ahead to the reunification palace which was built to mark the reunification of North and South Vietnam. It gives a great insight of how a president's/king's home feels like. The tour is nice and informative , do not miss the helicopter place on the top floor.

Post office: We then walk further to discover the old post office. The streets around this are buzzing with shops and food. The building itself is quite nice with with colors of yellow & greens. Some people still use the post office to post letters, fascinating. 

Notre Dame Cathedral: Our last stop was the Notre dam cathedral. It is loosely based on the original french Notre dam cathedral. The entire area around the cathedral has a very french colonial feel to it. It is refreshing to walk around these streets and discover the vietnamese culture. 

Bars & Lounges 

Chill Sky Bar , Champions Sports Lounge , Cafe Bulldog , Lots of other bars & lounges in the walking street. The walking street is relatively clean than the other Asian walking streets. The streets are lit with lanterns and lights. 

Places to Eat

Al Fresco's , Bollywood Restaurant ,  The street food is a must try specially the grills & the Vietnamese sandwich. Vietnam is also famous for its coffee, Highland coffee is a popular brand across Vietnam offering amazing coffee, you should also try the various local coffee shops. 

Places to Shop

You should visit the Banh Tanh Market for a good essence of the local shopping. Be ready to bargain well as shops bargain from 20-40% in all items. Around the market you find many local boutiques good for shopping designer wear for men and women. 

Hoi An

Our next stop was Hoi An, a one and a half an hour flight from Ho Chi Minh , you have to land at Da Nang airport first. From Da Nang you can take a taxi to Hoi An which takes around 1 hour to reach. While on the road you see the majestic marble mountains on one side and the clean white beaches on the other. Da Nang is famous for its marble mountains, Bana hills (the one with the famous golden bridge held by 2 giant hands) and sun world (a theme adventure park). But due to shortage of time we couldnt visit these places and straight drove to Hoi An. 

Sight Seeing

Hoi An is the definition of a perfect holiday. Excellent beach side resorts , a small village with colorful streets. The best part is you can travel the entire village in a bicycle which easy to rent from your hotel/resort or outside for as low as $2/day. Another tip, you should visit the various places using the traditional map instead of your smartphones or google maps, its far more exciting and you end up exploring breath taking places. 

You should visit the An Nang Beach , most resorts have a tie up with the beach cafes so it's best to grab a recliner and enjoy the clean beaches. If you are lucky you can actually spot multiple rainbows in the beautiful skies. 

Other than the above there are a series of 7 sight seeing places which showcase different aspects of the Vietnam culture like the silk production, Japanese covered bridge, Chinese temple etc.Each element is a spectacle to watch and learn about. In the night the old town lights up like a fairy tale. The river running at the centre of old town is lit up with lanterns which are actually wishes made by locals & tourists. You can purchase one with the shops along the river and they will float them on the river. You can also try a river boat ride which takes you along the old town. 

Places to Eat

Another must try in hoi an is the street food - Vietnamese Sandwich at Banh Mi Phuong. It actually got famous when super chef Anthony Bourdain covered it in his show and since then it has been visited by many celebrity chefs. The place actually has queues of people waiting to have a bite of this Vietnamese wonder.

2 places I recommend to dine are morning Glory and Mango Mango (The Craft beers are a must try). The Vietnamese mango and the Vietnamese platter are food experiences worth trying. The ambience in both these places are serene with Chinese lanterns, soft live music and Riverside experience. Other noteworthy restaurants are Bahn Thien, Soul Cafe.

Places to Shop

The old town is on the other side of the village, famous for it's shopping from fashionable clothes , cotton wear, beach floral wear, home decor and much more. One of the unique shopping points is the tailor made suits & dresses which you can order and receive within 24 hours. The must try is the Bebe store , they have some exquisite collection of suits for men and women and is a very popular joint for tourists.

Hoi An is a UNESCO world heritage site and was easily one of the best destinations I visited for a long time.

Hanoi

My last stop in the trip was Hanoi the capital city of Vietnam. The best place to stay in Hanoi are the old quarters. The place has small lanes and is very busy. The metropolis of Vietnam has a very distinct French colony due to a long term rule and influence of the French. One distinct sight seeing which you just should not miss when you visit Hanoi is the Halong Bay. We again missed this one in this trip but we surely will make a visit to this place the next time. 

Sight Seeing

Hoa Lo Prison: This was a one of a kind episode in our Vietnam chapter. It was the first time I was visiting a prison museum. Built by the French for political prisoners , it is now converted into a museum. It showcases all aspects very well, from the way prisoners were kept during those times, the way they ate, used the toilet and so on. Some exciting write ups are placed in various walls of prison breaks. They also show a special area where prisoners who were sentenced to be hung to death were placed. Its an hour tour and surely is worth visiting. 

Hoan Kiem Lake: So this is a popular lake in the centre of Hanoi. It is surrounded by bustling shops and eating places. In and around the lake there is a park where you can spot people doing all sorts of activities like playing a popular street sport - Shuttlecock which is basically badminton with feet , you play with a birdie. There are people doing zumba , or just enjoying an evening walk. 

Ngoc Son Temple: It is a temple in the centre of the Hoan Kiem Lake, you have to cross a wooden bridge to enter this temple and is a popular tourist and local destination. 

Places to Eat

We tried our hands at Khazaana which is a popular Indian restaurant in Hanoi, Old Quarters. The restaurant is popular and the flavours & preparations are very close to food back home in India. You will surely feel at home away from home at this junction. 

Another exciting place we visited was Trung Nguyen Coffee Shop. They claim to be one of the best coffees in the world and rightly so. Firstly, it is fascinating to see the menu card with so many types of coffees each with a specific purpose. Like, they have coffee for lifting your spirits, for enhancing creativity etc etc. Next, once you select the coffee it comes in a fascinating cup where you can see it brewed to perfection in front of you. And lastly, the taste is one of the finest enriching coffee experiences. 

Avalon BBQ Garden was a perfect choice for a dining feast. It is next to the lake and situated on the 5th level, so you can see a beautiful view of the lake and enjoy live barbecue cooking on your table. So they have each table fit with barbecue sets and the cooking for the most of the food items of the menu happen in front of you on your table itself. 

Places to Shop

Again street shopping is wonderful in Hanoi with shops open till late at night. Be ready to explore some exquisite silk and cotton wear. Do not miss the funky Vietnamese tshirts available at less than $3. 

For high end shopping you should try the Trang Tien Plaza close to the Hoan Kiem Lake which houses the most popular brands like Burberry, Gucci etc etc. 

The currency that works in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong and US Dollar. You can carry US dollars and get exchanges in the airport/hotel for best exchange rates or use a forex card. Getting currency exchanged from local unauthorized shops can be risky. Traveling in Vietnam is convenient, most of the in city tours can be done on foot. For distances you can use the taxi app Grab (similar to Uber) for the most affordable rides. 

Overall, the vietnamese trip was mesmerizing and had a little something for every day. Its hard to imagine that just some decades ago the war had devastated this country. Hoping to visit again very soon and continuing my new found love in blogging. 

Cheers, 

Anant