Before stepping onto the court, the Phoenix Flames—one of the world’s premier pickleball teams—stepped into history.
The Phoenix Flames, one of the world’s top pickleball teams, touched down in Vietnam’s capital not just for competition, but for culture. As part of RISE WITH THE FLAMES—an event series chronicling the off-court adventures of elite athletes—their first stop was Hanoi. The team traded sneakers for sandals and paddles for passports to embark on an immersive tour curated by BestPrice Travel, a local leader in authentic cultural experiences.
For a team accustomed to lightning-fast serves and split-second reflexes, the pace in Hanoi was refreshingly deliberate. The city’s deep-rooted history and vibrant street life offered a stark and welcome contrast to the intensity of international sport.
A Quiet Start at the Temple of Literature
The day began in one of the city’s most serene sanctuaries: the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070 and home to Vietnam’s first national university, the site is a tribute to Confucian scholarship and intellectual pursuit. The team moved in hushed reverence through ancient courtyards and among stone steles etched with the names of past scholars.
“There’s a kind of calm here that makes you reflect,” one player said while pausing beneath a carved wooden pavilion. “You start to think about the discipline it takes to be great—not just in sport, but in life.”
The parallels weren’t lost on the athletes. In a setting where education was once revered above all else, the team found echoes of their commitment to growth, mastery, and mental endurance.
Hanoi at Street Level: A Cyclo Ride Through the Past and Present
Exiting the peaceful grounds of the temple, the team stepped into the pulse of Hanoi—its Old Quarter—aboard cyclos, the city’s iconic three-wheeled taxis. The streets here are narrow, noisy, and layered with history. As they rolled through a district where every road once corresponded to a specific trade, the athletes were met with a blur of scooters, street vendors, and steaming pots of pho.
The ride was more than a sightseeing jaunt—it was a lesson in how tradition and modernity collide and coexist. Between the clamor of commerce and the worn beauty of French colonial facades, the Phoenix Flames glimpsed a Hanoi that’s constantly moving but firmly rooted.
It was an experience that distilled a Hanoi city tour: vibrant, textured, and utterly immersive.
Hoan Kiem Lake: Where Legend Lingers
From street-level stories, the team turned toward myth. At the heart of the city lies Hoan Kiem Lake, where legend holds that Emperor Le Loi returned a divine sword to a golden turtle god in the 15th century. Crossing the red lacquered Huc Bridge into Ngoc Son Temple, the athletes entered a realm of symbolism and national pride.
“Every country has its legends,” one athlete said. “But this one felt personal. You see the pride people carry in these stories.”
As the story of Le Loi unfolded, the lines between folklore and national identity blurred, showcasing how history, myth, and meaning are woven into Vietnam’s cultural fabric.
A Taste of Hanoi: Egg Coffee at Café Đinh
No cultural tour of Hanoi is complete without sampling its most unlikely delicacy: egg coffee. At Café Đinh, a modest shop tucked away on the second floor of an old French building, the team was served cups of strong Vietnamese coffee topped with a sweet, creamy layer of whipped egg yolk.
Surprisingly rich and dessert-like, the drink earned quick converts among the team. Laughter flowed as they exchanged first sips and captured the moment for social media.
The café, overlooking the lake, became a fitting place for reflection. In the quiet above the chaos, the team lingered, chatting not about their next match, but about the people, places, and stories they’d encountered.
When Travel Becomes Something More
“This was more than a tour,” said Mr. Thanh Tu Bui, Chief Marketing Officer of BestPrice Travel. “It was a cultural exchange. These athletes came not just to see Hanoi, but to feel it.”
For BestPrice Travel, the day was a demonstration of how thoughtful travel can forge deeper understanding. And for the Phoenix Flames, it was a reminder that growth doesn’t just happen in competition—it happens in connection.
Daescu, reflecting on the day, said it best: “We came here to compete. But today, we learned something else. About history. About humility. About what it means to be part of something bigger.”
As the Phoenix Flames continue their journey to explore Vietnam, Hanoi remains a vivid memory. A city where they didn’t just tour—they tuned in. Where culture served first, and sport followed with greater meaning.
