miGhtY mUrAL
You can’t miss the
colourful murals lining the Red
River Dike. Nearly four kilometres
long, the Hanoi Ceramic Road
mosaic was completed in 2010
to mark Hanoi’s 1,000th birthday.
The mural of geometric patterns
and historic scenes is said to be
the world’s largest ceramic mosaic.
while you’re there:
hANoi
VieTNam’s BusTliNg
capiTal HOuses aNcieNT
sHRiNes aND aVaNT-gaRDe
specTacles alike. keep
aN eYe ON THe pasT HeRe
wHile cRuisiNg TOwaRD
THe FuTuRe
A New womAN The thoughtfully
curated Vietnamese Women’s
Museum showcases female contri-
butions to society and culture. The
contemporary exhibits combine
costumes, propaganda posters
and artwork to demonstrate
women’s efforts during periods
of war and peace.
View from the top For the best view
of the city, head to the 65th floor
of the Lotte Tower. Opened in
2014 in the bustling Ba Dinh dis-
trict, the observation deck offers
a panoramic view of Hanoi’s Old
Quarter alongside the city’s
soaring skyscrapers. Raise a toast
at Top of Hanoi, the rooftop bar.
50
fall 2017
CAA MaNITOBa
It’s also another reminder of Thailand’s
multifaceted past. After the show, artists
graciously snap selfies with members of
our smitten audience.
My camera comes out again during
later explorations of Rama I Road and
Sukhumvit Road, which cut through
residential districts and Bangkok’s cen-
tral shopping zone. Its glitzy megamalls,
designed by some of the world’s most
forward-thinking architects to showcase
luxury brands, are among the clearest
signs of Bangkok’s modernization.
The EmQuartier retail project, com-
pleted in 2015, features a lush indoor
garden, a 40-metre-high waterfall,
more than 50 eateries, and an all-glass
Sky Cliff that juts over the Sukhumvit
neighbourhood 45 storeys below.
Central Embassy, a shopping centre
and hotel built on the former gardens
of Bangkok’s British embassy, boasts a
uniquely patterned aluminum facade
and a terraced interior reminiscent
of the Guggenheim Museum in New
York. The top floor’s 7,000-square-
metre Open House is a contemporary
public square: An art gallery, children’s
playground, coworking space and
expansive bookshop intermingle with
restaurants and lounges—along with
some of the best views in the city.
But Western-style malls haven’t
completely crowded out Bangkok’s
traditional gathering places. The laby-
rinthine Chatuchak Weekend Market
is an 14-hectare open-air bazaar with
thousands of stalls. Its bustling aisles
are so engaging that for a while I forget
to combat the daytime heat by staying
hydrated and nourished. Recovery is
achieved at one of the market’s low-key
eateries, where I feast like a queen for
Thai flavours at The Never Ending
Summer; Food Republic’s cheap
eats (right)