A city rumoured to have more character and charm than buzzing Ho Chi Minh City in the south, I decided on Hanoi as the perfect destination for a short backpacking trek with my mom and a good introduction to mysterious land of Vietnam.
After a full day of travelling from Penang, Malaysia with a stop in Kuala Lumpur, we finally arrived in Hanoi and to our glorified hostel, the Hanoi Phoneix Hotel (43 Bat Su) in the Hoan Kiem district.
Hungry and tired, we twisted and turned down Hanoi’s city streets until we found a small shop with a couple customers and a huge steaming pot of Pho broth soup. If you’re visiting Hanoi, you can’t miss tasting the delights of Vietnam’s most popular dish, Pho: rice noodles in specially-made broth with your choice of meat and bean sprouts, peppers, lime, and basil served on the side.
After we had our fill, we began to plan out how to experience the best and most authentic parts of Hanoi and its nearby attractions, within the next four days.
Best of Hanoi in four days in Hanoi city, Vietnam
On our first day in Hanoi, we went on a day-tour with the hotel to the the Ancient Capital of Hoa Lu and Caves of Tam Coc. As the ancient capital of Vietnam, the Dai Co Viet palace hidden among the mountains and winding rivers in Hoa Lu was a strategic spot to keep the kingdom safe from the Chinese in the 10th and 11th centuries. After a short visit, our next stop was Tam Coc, a 3-hour river journey along the Ngo Dong river past giant limestone boulders and through three caves.
The next day, we paid a pilgrimage to Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay has become one of the most popular visitors’ attractions in Vietnam since it was named a[[ UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Although the attraction’s junk boat tours pump visitors in and out daily like a well-oiled machine, a 2-day + 1-night journey through the stunning limerock edifices is a must when you visit Hanoi. Although the food isn’t spectacular, the sights through the bay are one-of-a-kind. Legend tells of a dragon that was sent to protect the Vietnamese from Chinese invaders. When passing over this place, the dragon thrashed its tail, leaving almost 2,000 limestone structures littered throughout the area.
A day in Hanoi, Vietnam
After returning from a 2-day trip to Ha Long Bay, we thought that we were due for a relaxing museum day in Hanoi city.
Both the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum of these attractions are steeped in Communist-Socialist history and propaganda, and are both worth a visit for your dose of education and culture. When visiting the Mausoleum, keep your nose clean – bags must be checked, no photographs allowed, no talking, no short pants, no signs of disrespect, and a small army of guards watching your every move. The museum hosts and array of modernist displays of Ho Chi Minh’s life and role in Vietnam.
In the afternoon, we strolled around Hoan Kiem Lake to take in the city, and try to catch a glimpse of the lake’s legendary turtle – not to mention watching local children urinating into their sacred lake. Another great option during the afternoon in Hanoi is to get lost in the Old Quarter, where you can visit shops, markets stalls, and find great items to take home, silk scarves – just be sure to bargain hard.
In the evening, we found that the Water Puppet Theatre Show is a fun, inexpensive way to start the evening. Traditional music is paired with the story-telling of Vietnam’s folk tales and legends through puppets on a scene in water. As the theatre is just at the edge of Hoan Kiem Lake, after the show, we meandered our way through Hanoi’s scooter-filled streets for a quick dinner of Vietnamese fresh rolls before heading back to the Hanoi Phoenix Hotel before getting ready to leave the next morning.