"MY 1ST STOP IN VIETNAM WAS......................." Hanoi by balhannah

Hanoi Travel Guide: 2,675 reviews and 5,718 photos

HANOI CITY

Coming from a western culture where the air is clean and fresh and rubbish is put in bins, the population is small and there is not an enormous amount of traffic, Hanoi sure was quite a culture shock!
The streets were narrow, the footpaths were full of parked motorbikes, roads were full of motorbikes, with a few cars and taxis.

I found many people cooking in the streets. I did eat at one of these places where the tiny doll size chairs & tables spilled onto the street. Oh! My legs!
I found getting up difficult, these size tables and chairs are not made for taller people! With no rubbish bins, they just throw everything on the street, then in the evening, a rubbish patrol comes and picks it up.

Buildings are narrow and high, very different to home!
It is also very smoggy.
People pester you to buy their goods, and often if you say no, they follow you.

I took a cyclo ride and was lucky enough to have a driver who could speak English and stopped many times for me to take photo's, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the city this way.

They deal in US dollars and the vietnamese dong.

Vietnamese guards

DAY TRIPS OUT OF HANOI CITY

12-3-2008 "PERFUME PAGODA TOUR" is very scenic.

Its about a 2 hour drive to reach the destination.
Sitting on narrow steel benches in a local row boat, expect to get a sore bottom, as its 1/1/2 hours each way!!
On arrival, you walk past lots of eateries, with all sorts of animals hanging up. Really different, had us all talking about the different animals they eat!
There is a cable car you can take to the top, or you can walk.........
Our group took the cable car to the top.
There wasn't much to see from the Cable Car, and what there was, was spoilt by heaps of rubbish being dumped into the landscape!
The Cave was interesting, and there were lots and lots of people here.
This trip I enjoyed.

13-3-2008........... A day tour to HALONG BAY

I didn't have very good weather on the day I went, but still enjoyed the trip.
Remember, it can get quite cool on a bad day, so take something warm with you to wear!
We visited a fish farm, saw Cuttlefish, then had lunch on the Junk. I did an optional tour with a local that took us through caves, it was lovely, cost 50000 dong, well worth doing if you get a chance! We cruised for a while, then visited a large cave, which was absolutely beautiful.

You can't even get away from the hard sell when on a tour here, they pull up beside the boat, and hop on. We all groaned!!

The downside was another disorganized tour which took much longer 11.5 hours, this made it an exhausting day.

14-3-2008 A day tour to TAM COC

Another 3 hour journey.
We stopped at a Temple first, then went onto where the rowboats leave. A local man rowed us through this tranquil area of caves and lovely scenery.

This was a very enjoyable trip, probably, about my favorite!

Shoes for sale in the streets of Hanoi

17-3-2008 CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK

I did a private tour to this national park. This is out in the country where you get to see local life, ducks, pigs, water buffalo and a coffin!!! on the back of a motor bike.

The park is for hiking, but what I went to see, was the endangered Monkeys.
Most of them were Langurs from Vietnam, with One race, only having 68 left in the wild.
They are breeding well in captivity.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Nil
Cons:Plenty
In a nutshell:The Old town is interesting to wander around.

Last visit to Hanoi: Mar 2008
Intro Updated Jan 30, 2013
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (57)

B52 POND or HUU TIEP LAKE Off The Beaten Path (9)

Huu Tiep Lake, about a klm west of the Mausoleum is a nothing startling to look at. ITS FAME IS............ The... more travel advice

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL Off The Beaten Path (9)

St. Joseph's Cathedral to me, was a rather dull, uninspiring Church. The dull, dark Grey colour probably didn't help,... more travel advice

My Motorbike Taxi driver with his Bike - Hanoi

MOTORBIKE TAXI Transportation (2)

Motorbikes are everywhere in Hanoi, so it is no surprise, that there are dozens of Motor bike taxi's all wanting your... more travel advice

ROCK SCULPTURE Local Customs (11)

In Hanoi, I came across what is in my photo, and never knew what they were! Then, one day, on a tour to the Silk... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (3)
See All KNOW YOUR DONG!
Warnings and Dangers (6)
See All MUSEUM'S CLOSED
Things to Do (21)
See All THE FRENCH QUARTER

Favorites (2)
See All EXPLORE HANOI BY CYCLO
Restaurants (2)
See All Perfume Pagoda Restaurants
Hotels (1)
Good cheap accommodation

Comments (9)

Reply
- Report abuse
thegreynomad Apr 14, 2011 at 12:21 AM

I have eventually found time to return and finish reading this page. Good tips on warning and dangers.
Reply
- Report abuse
Maryimelda Jul 5, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Why don't we have any photos of you on the cyclo or motor bike? I'd like to see that! I guess the Vietnamese think that our wedding and funeral customs are weird compared to theirs?
Reply
- Report abuse
ValbyDK Dec 6, 2009 at 7:57 AM

Great Hanoi page. I also enjoyed the Ethnology Museum, an excellent museum.
Reply
- Report abuse
Greggor58 Sep 23, 2009 at 3:12 PM

Another GREAT page De...I really enjoyed my visit here..Loads of interesting information...Thanks for al of your efforts here!@!!I can hardly wait until January!!!
Reply
- Report abuse
King_Golo Apr 26, 2009 at 11:53 PM

Interesting tips, thanks for sharing! I lived in Hanoi for 6 months, and it was one of the best times of my life.
Reply
- Report abuse
jumpingnorman Dec 16, 2008 at 7:49 AM

These pics atHoa Lu are so nice --- I want to visit Vietnam someday too (on my wish list along with Cambodia!) Thanks for the tips and pics!
Reply
- Report abuse
MalenaN Dec 6, 2008 at 10:51 PM

I visited Hanoi in 1993. At that time bikes were more common than motor bikes. Great tips that brought back some good memories!
Reply
- Report abuse
Nemorino Oct 18, 2008 at 3:48 AM

Your tips bring back nice memories of my visit to Hanoi in 1995, when I rented a bicycle and had a great time cycling all around. I can't find the name of the hotel I stayed in, but it looks very much like yours. I traveled to and from Hanoi by train.
Reply
- Report abuse
easterntrekker Aug 20, 2008 at 4:59 PM

Thanks for dropping in on my Split page. I had a little tour of your Vietnam pages ...a place we hope to go to. very nice pages and gorgeous pictures!!