Asia: The Rewarding Journey 48505 views

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Step 27/82: Vietnam - Hanoi

Hanoi photo by Sylvain Heber-suffrin

About Hanoi

The first thing you will notice when you reach Hanoi is the crazy traffic (in terms of the number of people driving, and also how they drive) … Welcome to Vietnam! Most of the things you want to see are located in or close by the “Old quarters”. You can easily spend 3-4 days in the capital to enjoy the Northern Vietnamese way of life! The food is great and you will get the chance to share a local beer with the many backpackers who go through this city.
Bus/Coach icon
How I got here ?

Price: 16 $

Traveling time: 8 hours

3 hours to reach the Vietnamese border; 1 hour at the border; 4 hours to reach Hanoi. The bus won't drop you off in the old quarter (the area where you need to go);

Tips & Tricks

  • Don't pay the taxi more than 150 000 Dongs to reach the Old Quarters

Things to see

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 6 /10
0.5 $
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum photo by Sylvain Heber-suffrin

User's opinion
If you have already seen the Mausoleum of Lenin in Moscow, and the Mausoleum of Mao in Beijing, you will have an impression of deja-vu. Paying a visit to uncle Ho is still a nice experience as you will witness the thousand of Vietnamese people who come everyday to pay their respect to their national hero.
Vietnamese Water Puppet Show 5 /10
10 $
Vietnamese Water Puppet Show photo by Sylvain Heber-suffrin

User's opinion
This traditional Vietnamese art is a must see: there is a band playing traditional music while the puppets evolve on the water. You will most likely be bored after 20 minutes and happy to get out after spending one hour on the uncomfortable seats.
Hoan Kiem Lake 8 /10
0 $
Hoan Kiem Lake photo by Sylvain Heber-suffrin

User's opinion
The lake is very close from the old quarter. The Ngoc Son Temple is on it and you can use a small bridge to reach it.

Practical