Charming must be a word used to describe Hanoi countless of times. There is something about the mad rush of motorcycles, beautiful old and new tall narrow French-style houses, temples, communist symbols, and cheap street food that makes it hard to dislike this city. There are also a lot of side trips one can take. In fact, there are just so many things to see and experience that a little planning would certainly maximize any trip to this part of Vietnam. Below is a suggested itinerary and some must-know.
HANOI
For most people who normally only have 3 days or so for trips, I recommend atleast a day to explore Hanoi.
Morning
a. Ho Chi Minh Masoleum
b. Ho Chi Minh Vestige
c. One Pillar Pagoda
d. Ho Chi Minh Museum (Entrance 10,000 dong)
e. Temple of Literature (Entrance 5,000 dong)
I suggest a heavy breakfast since depending on how much time you need per site, the following might run a little past lunch time. I suggest you take lunch in the Old Quarter because of the numerous cheap restaurants one can find. If you don’t mind spending a bit more, you can check out Brother’s Cafe which is near the Temple of Literature.
Afternoon
f. Old Quarter
g. Hoan Kiem Lake
h. Ngoc Son Temple (Entrance 2,000 dong)
i. Hoa Lo Prison (Entrance 5,000 dong)
j. St. Joseph’s Cathedral
k. Water Puppet Theatre
The following sites are picked out because of their proximity to each other which would save you that cyclo trip. Sites a/b/c/d are beside each other and e is probably a 10-min walk away. Sites f/g/h/i/j/k are also a block or two from each other and easily walkable. If one doesn’t mind the heat (if you visit on the hot season), one can also walk it from the Temple of Literature to the Old Quarter area.
If you have more time you can also check the ff. sites:
Ethnologie Museum
Army Museum
For Lodging, Old Quarter have a lot of affordable accommodations. Its location also makes it ideal. My suggested restos to check out are within the area:
Bun Cha Hang Manh – the best Bun Cha: grilled pork, vermicelli, herbs, and spring roll
Cha Ca La Vong – Oldest restaurant in Hanoi and one of the most recommended by guide books. Serves only the Hanoi specialty Cha Ca (fish)
Pho Hang Dong – Good place for the Vietnamese noodle Pho.
Fanny’s Ice Cream Parlor – One of the good French legacy here is ice cream =)
Street XXX – Sit in a corner and have a Bia Hoi (beer brewed fresh daily)
SIDE TRIPS
Ha Long Bay – If you can only do one side trip, I suggest cruising along Halong Bay. There bay is filled with limestone karsts similar to those in Palawan. The difference is that this bay has thousands of these and is really quite breathtaking. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is in the running for the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. One can also get off some islands and one of the most popular stops is the Thien Cung caves which is also called the Heavenly palace because of the beautiful formations. One can sleep overnight in a junk boat or stay in a hotel on Cat-Ba Island. Of course you can do both if you have the time. You can also do a day tour but would be too exhausting.
Perfume Pagoda – The Perfume Pagoda itself might be a disappointment but the view en route is amazing.
Sapa Valley Trek – Sapa is similar to our Banaue Rice Terraces but more expansive. It is also better preserved.
