Hello Vietnam (PT 1): Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

First stop in Vietnam, Hanoi.

Why Hanoi? So my plan was to leave from Vietnam to Indonesia, so I went on google maps and checked whats the closest point to leave from and shortest to arrive in Indonesia. According to the map, it was Ho Chinh Minh. So that was my end point.

Arriving to Hanoi, Night 1
Hanoi is a city and it’s the Capital of Vietnam. In Hanoi, my friend Basma and I decided to stay in the center, Hoan Kiem.

We found a cute clean hotel, very well priced in the center called: Hanoi Delano Hotel and that was our choice for the night. (Around 53 USD including VAT and service charge including breakfast).

We immediately headed out after we’re done with checkin to walk around the center, and head towards their famous Lake. forgot the name lol – STUNNING LAKE! There’s a bridge in the middle of the lake, you can pay and access. I didn’t go on that bridge, I just enjoyed the walk around the lake its a must.

The hotel also informed us that since it was the weekend, there was a night market and that was our stop after the lake.

Night 2, Ha Long Bay

Our Ha Long Bay visit was arranged through Viator.com – we’ve booked prior to our arrival an overnight 4 star cruise to explore Ha Long Bay. (2-day Oriental Sails Junk Cruise of Halong Bay from Hanoi.

We were picked up from our hotel in Hanoi in a mini-van that seats 12 people, the drive was 4 hours which included a stop in a cafe.

We’re arrived to the bay, and hopped on the boat to take us to the cruise.

To be very honest… I was very pleasantly surprised. What a lovely cruise! Basma and I booked 2 single rooms, each of us got their own big bed, a little seating area with stunning view of the bay, jacuzzi, and a fully equipped wooden bathroom. Sweet!

(you’ll find more about Hanoi in Night 3 below right after Day 2 of cruising).

Day 1 on cruise: HA LONG BAY

day one started off with an on board lunch which as included in the total payment (all meals were included minus drinks), and a welcome chat to go over the activities of the day:

– Fishing Village visit by Bamboo Rowing Boat
– There was a mini golf course on the top of the cruise
– Cooking class on board

There was another option that included Kayaking and swimming, but the weather was too cold for a swim or to even get wet for that matter.

It was truly enjoyable! I was able to also cover live all our activities on my snapchat account .. If you’re not following me yet, Add Me! (Username: Hello965).

Day 2 on cruise: BAI TU LONG BAY

Alarm was set at 6 am, to enjoy the start of the day with Tai-Chi lesson on the sundeck.

Right after this session, breakfast was served. Right after breakfast we headed on a small cruise to see the caves. Honestly, it was too windy and too rainy, so to me, the caves could be skipped especially with the weather conditions.

After the second day and as part of the tour we book via viator, the same bus that picked us which picked us from the hotel, dropped us back to Hanoi.

So Night 3, was spent in Hanoi.

That night, I met up with fellow travel blogger @drewbinsky and met his lovely girlfriend Deanna, we had dinner and it was a lotta fun!

Dinner restaurant: Green Tangerine – While Basma and I were walking in Hanoi on our first night, we saw the cutest french vietnamese restaurant with a really nice outdoors seating area, right then and there, we decided we’re having dinner there upon our return to Hanoi.

They also took me to this beautiful Latern Cafe/Bar/Restaurant .. It was just BEAUTIFUL. Thanks Drew & Deanna!

_________________________

Music used in this video:

Retreat by Dexter Britain
Pure Air by Dexter Britain
Passerby
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence
September Song by JP Cooper