Traveling Hanoi Vietnam

From Siem Reap, we spent time traveling Hanoi, Vietnam which included a day tour of the famous Ha Long Bay and 10 days (way too long) in Ninh Binh. Vietnam is an amazing country and Hanoi is beautiful with amazing food, but it’s also extremely chaotic and sensory overload. Here are some of the things we did while traveling Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hanoi, Vietnam

When we first arrived in Vietnam, this was right after they received a pretty bad typhoon in the country. Thankfully many of the roads were cleared and there wasn’t much damage done. But we were staying in an Airbnb around the West Lake area. This place had a great view of the lake but there wasn’t much around and we had quite a few issues occur while there. So we ended up leaving after about three days and moved to a hotel near the old quarter. Being walking distance to most of the main sites was definitely much easier.

Walk Around Hoàn Kiếm Lake

This is a beautiful lake with walking paths right in the center of the old quarter. If you’re visiting Hanoi, Vietnam, you’re unlikely to miss it, even if you’re just happening to walk by it to another site. While there, you can also check out Ngoc Son Temple. Though we didn’t feel it was worth paying to visit (even though it was pretty cheap at less than $1 USD per person). You can access the bridge without paying though, if you’d rather just take pictures.

Visit Train Street

Definitely one of the most iconic things you can experience when visiting Hanoi, Vietnam is train street. We booked a guided food tour which included train street, through Get Your Guide, to get some of the essential experiences. The price was about $20 per person and included the food and one coffee. After the food tour, we were taken to train street where we were able to sit and watch the train pass closely by. It’s scary and exciting! I would definitely recommend the tour. We were lucky to get two different views, one from above and another from below. The food was also amazing.

See the Water Puppet Show

The water puppet show is a fun experience if you’re traveling Hanoi, Vietnam. This is more of a cultural experience and was pretty interesting despite the fact that it’s only in Vietnamese. Again, tickets can be purchased through sites like Get Your Guide. The price is about $7.50 USD per person. Though the show is strictly in Vietnamese, they do provide audio guides for other languages, but it’s not always easy to hear. Either way, the show is fun to watch, with live music being played, and it’s not very long. So easy to do.

Enjoy Vietnamese Coffee

There are cafes EVERYWHERE in Hanoi, Vietnam! Popular tourist spots like The Note Coffee are fun just for the Instagrammable pictures and view to one of the busiest streets in Hanoi. But there are plenty of cheaper options with more delicious coffee. I found The Note Coffee to be a bit lacking in flavor.

For a traditional egg coffee, you can check out Cafe Giảng. It’s another tourist spot but that’s because it boasts being the original egg coffee maker. We really like Hidden Gem Cafe Hanoi. I wouldn’t say this is a local spot. But it was recommended by our Airbnb host and it had delicious coffee and a good banh mi.

Learn About Vietnam’s History

Vietnam has a sad and complex history. We always try to learn some history about the places we visit. One of the places that gives some important information is Hoa Lo Prison Relic. This was a prison originally built by the French to hold political prisoners and then later used during the Vietnam War to hold U.S. prisoners of war, the most well-known being John McCain.

There’s also the Vietnam Military History Museum. This had some interesting information but was the most confusing museum I’ve ever been to. There were no signs telling you where to go and various building and rooms that seemed to be closed. I would only recommend going if you’re really into Vietnam’s military history. Sean’s dad was drafted to this war, so he found it very interesting to learn more from the Vietnam perspective.

Go Temple Hopping in Hanoi, Vietnam

Visit the beautiful temples and pagodas around Hanoi, Vietnam. One of the most visited is the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070, this temple complex was dedicated to the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. The entrance fee for The Temple of Literature is around $3 USD per adult.

Next, check out Tran Quoc Pagoda. Built in 541, it’s the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. Located on a small island near West Lake. There is no entrance fee but if you’re female, make sure you have something to cover your legs. There are women outside offering cover-ups to be rented for a price. But it’s best to have your own to avoid being scammed. On the way to Tran Quoc Pagoda, you can also stop in at Quan Thanh Temple. This is a Taoist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Finally, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Built in the 11th century, this complex marks the independence of the Dai Viet and was the seat of power. For the cost of around $2.75 USD per person, this complex was really incredible to explore. We spent probably about 2 hours or more just walking around. I would definitely recommend it.

Eat ALL the Food in Hanoi, Vietnam

When you’re traveling Hanoi, Vietnam, it’s impossible to avoid the delicious food. This city (and the country in general) has some of the best food in the world. From banh mi to pho to bun cha – there’s so much cheap and delicious food!

Bun Cha: This is the dish we constantly talk about. The BEST Vietnamese dish that seems impossible to find anywhere else. Here are a couple of recommended places: Bun cha Thang Hang and Bún chả Hương Liên (also best known as Bun Cha Obama – the place Anthony Bourdain took President Obama).

Pho: The dish that most people know. We found delicious pho at Bếp Việt.

Nem Nướng Nha Trang Quế Hoa: This seems to be an extremely underrated and unknown dish to many tourists. It’s a plate of grilled meat with several veggies that you wrap in rice paper. It’s incredibly delicious. I would also recommend getting the kumquat tea there too.

Banh mi: You can find delicious banh mis on every corner, but one of our favorite was Banh Mi 25.

Pizza 4 P’s: This is a chain restaurant but has the most delicious pizza. If you’re looking for a non-Vietnamese option, this place is great. The price tag is a bit higher than the more local food though.

Ha Long Bay Near Hanoi, Vietnam

One of the most popular destinations when traveling Hanoi, Vietnam is Ha Long Bay. Sean and I debated doing this tour for a couple of reasons. First, we were worried about the state of the area after being hit by the typhoon. Namely, we were considering the damage and debris that might be remaining. The second reason we were unsure is the over-tourism and environmental impact that’s been affecting this area. We were concerned with contributing to that. We were also concerned with some of the videos we were seeing and blogs we read about other people’s experiences.

Ultimately, we decided that instead of the pricey overnight tours, we would just do a day tour. While it was extremely crowded in the areas we stopped at, the landscape was stunning and totally worth it. Did we still contribute to the problem of over-tourism and the environmental impact? Probably. It’s not something we’re immensely proud of and try to do our best to be responsible travelers.

Day Trip to Ha Long Bay

Anyway, the tour was enjoyable. I don’t remember what company we booked with but it was something similar to this one from Get Your Guide. They picked us up from our hotel and took us to Ha Long Bay. We enjoyed conversation with our table mates while eating the mediocre meal provided on the boat. Then went to the typical locations of Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, and kayaking. We also paid extra for a speedboat tour, which was probably the best part besides the landscape.

After the trip we were dropped back near our hotel. Besides for the annoyance of the extremely limited time you have at bathroom stops, it was a great trip (besides Sean cursing at some guy who was butting in from of him while waiting in the checkout. “Are you F&@ insane!?”) We were in a rush after all, and this guy was extremely rude. If you’re visiting Hanoi, Vietnam and want to do Ha Long Bay, the day trip might be a good budget-friendlier option.