WEEKEND IN HANOI

As per my previous post, I did went to Hanoi and came back in one piece. Here I would like to share my travel experience there.

Landing at No Bai International Airport with 1.5 hours delay, I went to a travel agency to book for a hotel room. Rated as 2-stars hotel, situated near the Old Quarters, I booked for a room with breakfast for US$25. Arriving at the hotel, I went straight to the counter and booked myself a 2D/1N tour for Halong Bay. It costs me US$44, which includes accomodation on the boat (single room), meals, tour and kayaking.

Then I strolled along the Old Quarters and also the Hong Kiam Lake for sightseeing, dinner and also pasar malam. Hanoi to me is a unique city, with nice French architecture, and thousands of motorcycles. (Pic below: Hanoi Opera House)

The foodstalls across the street in unique. Using low tables and stools (bangku), you can really taste the local food with less than RM2 (approx 8000 dong). Try out beef noodles, chicken noodles, tow foo far, steamboat, fresh fruits and the strong and bitter Vietnamese coffee. All at very cheap prices. Be careful, though, you must ensure the soup they served are still boiling in the pot. Otherwise, you may get diarrhea.

Next morning I boarded the tourist van to Halong Bay. The van was packed with Mat Salleh (or farang, in Thai). Met tourist from Canada, Israel, UK, US and Germany. Amazingly I was the only Asian. Sigh! By the way, the Canadian guy is so cute. He he he

Reaching Halong Bay, we checked in to the junk (or boat) and had lunch there. All Vietnamese food served, and then the guide took us to Halong Bay for sightseeing. Went to a cave (something like sam poh tong) - nothing special for a Ipoh guy like me. Though the scenery is unique (like mini Guilin). Also went for kayaking and had a chance to view the spectacular sunset in the middle of Halong Bay.

Hanoi to me is not a shopping heaven. I feel that Bangkok is much better for shopping, but it's a totally new experience to wander around in an old city, packed with old French architecture buildings, thousands of motorbike and the never-ending honks sounds. After all, it is really good weekend outing by my own.

And my next destination: probably Tibet or Argentina. :-)