West Lake Hanoi
When people ask, and they often do, my favourite country in Asia is definitely Vietnam. There are a whole host of reasons. I find Vietnam, Hanoi and the north in particular very underdeveloped, maintaining it’s authenticity and culture with its own variation of charm. Aside from this, the amazing food available everywhere and the people make Hanoi and Vietnam a very special place and definitely worth a visit if you’re in south east Asia.
My information is relatively extensive as, well, I lived there for three years. Other places worth a visit are Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. Ha Long Bay I’m undecided on, it’s spectacular but also so dirty and recommending it just doesn’t seem right at the moment, I have however included a little information on a separate page.
Arriving in to Ha Noi International airport is relatively easy. As a UK passport holder I can get a single entry 15 day visa on arrival (As of June 2019). For a longer Visa you can apply for a visa on arrival and will require an invitation letter. There are a whole host of online agencies or travel agents in the UK that can help with this.
Once you come through baggage if you don’t have VND there are a bunch of ATM’s, you’ll need cash in Hanoi, these ATM’s are legit and from domestic banks and HSBC so charges will be a little lower. If it’s your first time to Vietnam I would arrange an AirPort pick up from your accommodation, they should be able to arrange this for you easily enough. There is a taxi rank once you come out of the main doors and turn left, however, English isn’t widely spoken and addresses can be a little complex, I would always book in advance just to save the hassle after a long flight. Alternatively you can try Grab, they usually pick up from the departures level.
Accommodation
As a Marriott associate I have always stayed in the JW Marriott which is also where I worked. The location is away from down town, close to the airport and close to Korea Town. This is definitely an area that is up and coming in terms of major development, specifically with the location for the new Grand Prix track which will be within walking distance of the hotel. It’s also a great location if you are planning a day trip or even an overnight trip to Ha Long Bay.
To be closer to the old quarter and Hoan Kim lake accommodation is varied. If you have money to spend the Hotel Metrepole is the place to stay, an old original building that survived the war and even houses an underground shelter which is included in a complimentary tour. The architecture is stunning and the location is perfect. The hotel also has a little oasis pool in the centre of the building.
Another down town option would be the Apricot hotel, a little less expensive than the Metrople but cute and right in the centre fo everything. If you have a mid range budget Air BnB has becomes very popular in Hanoi and there are lots of options to choose from, just try and get as much information about the location as possible, I’d advise booking a transfer through your host to ensure you get dropped at the right place. Lastly there are hundreds of hostels in the old quarter, Hanoi Backpackers is probably the biggest operation but it gets boozy there, so if you’re looking for quiet nights in this might not be the place for you.
Tips
West Lake is great but a little far out from the Old Quarter and Hoan Kim Lake
Beware of fake hotels in the old quarter - double and triple check the website, contact addresses etc
Don’t include breakfast in your rate - go out and get fresh Pho Bo or Banh Mi and watch the early morning work out sessions
Getting around Hanoi:
If you’re content to just explore the streets of the old quarter then walking will do just fine. Motorbikes are the go to method of transport. They can seem a little daunting at first but as long as you follow the person in front and are ready for them to break suddenly or make a fast turn you should be fine. Do wear a helmet, don’t wear flip flops and, have cash to pay any “Fines” you might be awarded for not being Vietnamese.
Rentabike Hanoi was my preferred rental company. You get insurance and if anything happens to the bike they will come and pick it up and then exchange it for you. They have two branches, if this is your first experience of riding a motorbike in Asia then I would go to the Dang Thai Mai branch as the roads here are a little quieter to get you started. (Joma Coffee is around the corner so drive make that your first destination for a trial drive )
If the bikes seem a little scary then taxi’s and grab will be your go to. Traffic gets a little nuts in Hanoi so just be prepared to wait.
What to do
Food has it’s own section here as the food in Hanoi is amazing and for me that is one of the main things to do. However there are also lots of non food related activities, here are a few of my favourites.
This is an early morning or late night activity as the flower market starts getting busy at around 3am. I have been both after a night out and then a little later and 5am, it’s better at 3. The sellers come in from the local farms with trucks piled high with fresh flowers. These are then sold on and the buyers load up their motorbikes meters high to take the flowers back to their shops. It’s busy, dirty and noisy but a lot of fun and there are some great early morning/late night snacks to be had.
Temple of Literature - So it took me about 2 years to eventually get around to doing this but its actually quite a nice place to visit. The grounds are extensive, ponds, temples and lots of old shit. There is a small temple inside where you can purchase some incense and say a little prayer to the Vietnamese buddhist gods.
Cyclo Tour - Also took me about two years to do this, I had to do it for a work trip, and I’ll be honest I avoided doing it because it just looks a bit cheesy. Actually it’s a pretty fun way to see the old quarter and to figure out where everything it. Take a pollution mask though incase you get stuck in traffic. You will find cyclones drivers all over the old quarter so just stop one and negotiate the price.
Old Quarter/French Quarter/Hoan Kiem Lake - These three parts of town make up quite a nice walking tour which can be anything from two hours to a full day depending on what you decide to see and do. If you decide to walk during the day then on weekends you can expect to see dozens of couples doing their wedding photoshoots around the lake and in the streets of the French Quarter. Hoan Kim lake closes to vehicles during the evening on weekends and is transformed in to a night festival with artists, vendors, entertainment and more.
The old quarter is part tourist hub with hundreds of tour operators, restaurants and hostels, but also part local market. The streets are named according to what they sell. For example in Bamboo street you can buy all of your bamboo essentials, in shoe street - well you can find a whole host of footwear brands (Including some interesting hybrids - Gucci/Apple anyone?) It’s worth venturing away from the touristy areas, find a Ca The Da stall and have a fresh Vietnamese coffee on a plastic stool shoulder to shoulder with some of the locals. In the evening you can enjoy Bia and a host of local snacks.
There are a few things that I didn’t do but know people that did who had a great time; Vespa tours of the city at Hanoi Vespa Tours. Cooking Class Apron Up, Cycling Tours . I also heard good things about the Woman’s Museum and the POW museum.
If you have specific questions drop me a mail!