Hanoi, Vietnam - Impromptu Graduation Trip (12 days & budget) PART 1
However, in this post I'll only be talking about Hanoi.
I'll update my Facebook regarding the Chiangmai trip in part 2 and link it soon under this post as well.
Korea and Japan were in the list at first, but I decided to skip it to a less colder season as I'm the type of person who WOULD NOT do quite well in a freezing cold situations.
(i assume so as I can't even stand a temperature below 10 degrees)
As usual, I did all the accommodation bookings through ww.booking.com
So far, the site have yet to proof it's unreliability. :)
In total, the whole trip took approximately 12 days including international and domestic flights flight trips.
Hanoi, Vietnam
What I noticed regarding Vietnam is that it is rather safe for a solo traveling to go to. The locals mind their own business and they do not disturb travelers and tourists about anything.
Maybe because I look like a local? I'm not sure for non Asian travelers though
But during the whole trip, I feel rather safe walking by myself along busy roads and shop lots
On the other hand, traffic in Vietnam is horrendous! Bad not in a not-moving-traffic kinda way but more of a lack-of-traffic-lights and motorcycles everywhere! So far the traffic both in Ho Chi Minh/Saigon and Hanoi are rather similar (Ho Chi Minh/Saigon has more vehicles), so I'm assuming Vietnam in general have this traffic trait. However negative to many, I find this rather interesting, as it adds personality to the place.
When we landed in Hanoi, it was rather foggy and the effort to take pictures were inhibited. Not totally, but pictures would come out bad. :(
We were greeted with a 10 degrees Celsius cold temperature when we arrived Noi Bai International Airport. A sudden drop to the normal warm, humid weather in Malaysia.
But we went ready to conquer the weather with out wind breakers and long coats
We arrived early in the morning having taken the effort to travel throughout the night and I was unfortunately a bit sick (I had a mild case of measles)
Plus a bit of post air sickness. LETHAL COMBINATION!
We decided to just venture around the hotel area for some delicious "Bún Chả Hà Nội" or also known as Hanoi style rice vermicelli soup with grilled pork.
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| taken from www.visithanoivietnam.blogspot.com |
This northern Vietnamese dish is supposedly the second most sought after phở, Vietnam's headline dish throughout.
For vegetarians and non-pork eaters. I'm sorry in advance
This dish most definitely consists of grilled pork that will be soaked in a warm broth when served. Accompanying this are also rice vermicelli and an assortment of vegetables and greens including pickled ones as well.
After brunch, we decided to sleep to compensate for our sleep deprivation and explore more of the city later later dinner hunting. We decided to forgo any plans to attempt any exploration of the city outside any walking distances from the hotel.
The Streets of Hanoi
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| Hanoi Cathedral |
Hanoi in my opinion is a wonderful city with certain qualities that may lack in some Asian countries surrounding it. Unlike Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi reaches the expectations that I had for Vietnam.
Through our family friend (a Hanoian man), we made bookings regarding places to visit for the rest of the trips including a trip to Halong bay to celebrate the new years.
What we booked:
What we booked:
- Hanoi City Tours
- Halong Bay
- Perfume Pagoda
Since we did this so last minute, I did not manage a cheaper route.
HANOI CITY TOUR
For those who are more adventurous and more on the money cautious side, I recommend you do your own research on what and were you want to visit first hand before heading out to explore to avoid wasting time and visit as much places as possible.
Like I said, traffic here is ridiculous.
I, on the other hand, went with no tour guide to guide us but hired just a driver instead. It would've been better if we have had opted for a tour guide's assistance. Why?
- Language difference. I need a translator! Its hard to find local who speaks English. I even find it hard to listen to my driver properly with his thick accent and owh-so-broken English.
- Most of the descriptions done are in Vietnamese and French.
- Though I have transportation at my disposal - easier traveling, I go where ever the driver brought me - I did not have a clue on what i visited except for the name (which was given in VIETNAMESE!) I had to google the histories myself and translate the Vietnamese titles to English to fully understand what was going on.
- I have to eavesdrop most of the time to tourist guides who came with a group of English speaking people.
- My reason of the day: last minute planning - I did not manage to do proper research on Hanoi hence a guide would have haven.
Hanoi's attractions are mainly religiously based.
temples, pagodas, churches you name it. Plus, entrance are usually free!
If these types of attractions bore you, you can always opt to discuss your preferences to your friendly tour guide or better yet, just wing it!!! just like a true backpacker!
(I do not recommend this if you have a limited time in the city)
If these types of attractions bore you, you can always opt to discuss your preferences to your friendly tour guide or better yet, just wing it!!! just like a true backpacker!
(I do not recommend this if you have a limited time in the city)
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake and temple, Turtle tower
- Temple of Literature
- Museum of Ethnology
- Ho Chi Minh Museum
- Ho Chi Minh Moseleum
- Trấn Quốc Pagoda or Single Pillar Pagoda
Hoàn Kiếm Lake and temple, Turtle tower
Hoàn Kiếm Lake or as the locals say Hồ Hoàn Kiếm straightly translated as "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored Sword".
What interest me of this site is of the story behind it.I wouldn't elaborate any further regarding it though.Whats the fun it that? GO VISIT IT YOURSELF. All i'm going to tell you is, it involves a giant turtle and a heavy sword. :)
What interest me of this site is of the story behind it.I wouldn't elaborate any further regarding it though.Whats the fun it that? GO VISIT IT YOURSELF. All i'm going to tell you is, it involves a giant turtle and a heavy sword. :)
What delights me more is the little picturesque abandon looking temple in the middle of the lake.
So rustic, sad yet incredibly intriguing.
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| Turtle Tower - image from wikipedia.com |
The locals have built a temple known as the Ngoc Son temple, in the middle of the lake with a magnificent red bridge to allow visitors and pilgrimage alike to go across.
The spectacular and majestic Hoàn Kiếm turtle
!
Temple of Literature
The temple of Literature or as the locals call it, "Quoc Tu Giam". It is the very first university in Vietnam. It was first built to honor Confucius and now used to honor all the doctorates and high ranking scholars in Vietnam.
Fortunately it was only 10 minutes away from Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Ridiculous traffic! may i add more?
Good thing our driver was a super driver at avoiding random incoming vehicles!
The way Vietnamese drive is amazing I tell you
Legend has it in order to get good grades and be successful in life.
I was to lightly rub the head of the tortoise and the chest of the stork.
I did just that!
I wouldn't be a good sport now would I if I didn't do what everyone is doing be it if I actually believe in the gesture or if I am not even a Buddhist to begin with.
One thing in Vietnam, they love their turtles. i see tortoises everywhere in almost every temple i go to
Turtles are one of the five mystical creatures in the Vietnamese mythology.
- Vietnamese Dragon
- Pheonix
- Turtle/tortoises
- Qilin -a mystical hooved chimerical creature known in Chinese and other ast Asian cultures.
Museum of Ethnology
This museum is a must visit when in Hanoi. or so they say. As a fellow Asian, recognize most of the things displayed in the museum thus it was not as interesting to me as it would be to a person of a non-asian background.
Or maybe it was just me. I think it's just me. * love reading and Google-ing random stuff *
My legs were in pain and i was itching everywhere- that kinda also took me off my game.
Some of the displays were however intriguing *not all was a bore promise! (; * as they show videos of different Asian cultures and races perform their respective rituals on many aspect of the natural human steps in life -funerals, deaths, labor, marriage etc.
Entrance fee was charged at 25K VD
Entrance Fee was charged at 10K VD
Ho Chi Minh Museum & Ho Chi Minh Moseleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a large memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam. Unfortunately, when we
arrived, we did not get the chance to visit inside the mausoleum itself because we arrived after
the visitation hours.
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| image from - www.khachsantoancanhsapa.com |
Entrance Fee was charged at 10K VD
Trấn Quốc Pagoda (Buddhist) aka Single Pillar Pagoda
HALONG BAY
The Halong bay trip took us 2 days and 1 night where the bay itself is 4 hours away from the Hanoi.(there will be rest stops, don't worry)
We booked to join a tour and the services accommodates us just great! It was my first visit to Halong bay and it did not disappoint!
For this trip we were booked under Paragon Cruise. A bus was sent to our hotel's doorstep to have us picked up and off to Halong bay with a few others (mostly backpackers) As soon as we arrived the pier we were to get off the bus and transfer into a boat to get to our cruise, anchored somewhere within the bay.
Both our guides (both named Nam) were exceptionally helpful and friendly with a very good sense of humor. They made themselves available for questions to keep everyone informed regarding tour timings, histories, similar information and what not.
One can choose to sleep on land (Halong City) or on the cruise itself. We chose to stay on the cruise.
The room was comfortable and clean. checked
The food and excellent and abundantly available. checked
The bathroom was spacious and comes with hot water plus it's clean. checked
so far so good
The staff was friendly. checked
Last but not least, the ship is clean and comfortable. checked.
The ship consists of 4 storey:
1st storey - kitchen/engine room
2nd storey - accommodations
3rd storey - dining area/captain's cabin/bar/more accommodations
4th storey - common area/sun bathing area
As soon as we got on the ship, we settled in to freshen up and we headed straight up to the dining area to have lunch.
The tour included:
- Bus pickup and back from respective Hanoi hotel to Halong Bay Pier
- a night on the ship
- kayaking around different small islands (optional),
- a visit to Sung Sot Cave
- A visit to Ti Top Island
Besides that, 2 lunches, new years eve dinner and breakfast were also included.
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| Sung Sot Cave View |
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| Ti Top Island View |
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| Sung Sot Cave |
New Year's Eve this time leaned a bit towards the boring side. No fire crackers. I was sick and itching EVERYWHERE. The people we were with on the cruise were not as fun as well as they were mostly older couples and families.
So I decided to try my hands on squid fishing instead. No luck there.
So far this is the first new years in so long that i actually decided to turn in early. 10PM!
I was sick,itching and tired from all the traveling plus I was getting bored from waiting for the clock to struck midnight. God, I feel old.
Most of the cruise members decided to turn in as soon as the clock struck midnight anyway so I guess I wasn't the only one noticing the new year's eve party was getting sour by the minute.
I hoped you had a blast at your new year's eve party as much as I did.
Most of the cruise members decided to turn in as soon as the clock struck midnight anyway so I guess I wasn't the only one noticing the new year's eve party was getting sour by the minute.
I hoped you had a blast at your new year's eve party as much as I did.
TIP: stock up on some motion sickness tablets before your trip if you get queasy on boats, these can be bought over the counter at most pharmacies in Vietnam just google a few main brand names and write them on a bit of paper for the Pharmacist. (although it is very unlikely you will get any rough seas as the Vietnamese Govt are on the ball with this and will cancel all sailings in Halong Bay if it looks like a storm is at all heading that direction).
PERFUME PAGODA
Pefume pagoda or also known as Huong Pagoda are many many vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built atop of and into the limestones of the Huong Tich mountains.
The centre of this complex is the Perfume Temple, also known as Chua Trong (Inner Temple), located in Huong Tich Cave
The length of the tour of this religious site take up one whole day (return)
By bus, it takes up to about 2 hours and a half to the countryside where were will be heading the the mountain base by boat. (at the end of the tour, a tipping will be required to be given to this awesome lady driver of your respective boats)
Here's to Vietnam's infamous EVERYTHING preservation tank.
Vietnam is famous for Cobra wine and Scorpion wine.
For a healthier life apparently.
Turtles again!!
Pretty exquisite and detailed craftsmanship
Asian level 999
NOTES WHEN IN VIETNAM:
- When crossing roads, lookout for a small clearing and one should just walk slowly across and let the vehicles avoid YOU instead of you avoid them. DO NOT i repeat DO NOT make sudden movements and maintain your pace when walking as this will make it easier for the vehicles to avoid from hitting you. DO NOT RUN! Yes i know it sound crazy and dangerous. But do what the locals do they say and i did just that.
- Food in Vietnam are mostly non-halal. In fact, I did not come across any place that does not serve pork as one of their main dishes. However, there were vast vegetarian food shops/stalls though.
- It is very hard to find isotonic and energy drinks in Hanoi. Not that there isn't any. Just very hard to find.
- There is NO 7 Eleven in Hanoi! I freaked out a bit for a moment there.
The hotel is situated in the old part of the city and is sandwiched between buildings that I'd like to say that has a "full blown Vietnamese personality" plus the hotel overlooks a park where the locals come to exercise and play with their dogs.
FLUFFY, FULLY DRESSED PLUS BOOTIES, DOGS <3
Extra Expenses: Food & Miscellaneous
*conversion to USD is done as of january 2015*1ST DAY
AIRPORT TAXI ROUND-TRIP - 50 USD
Brunch- VD 35K
Dinner - VD 40 K
Total =70K VD =3.38 USD + 50 USD = 53.38 USD
2ND DAY
Breakfast - hotel
Lunch- 50K VD
Dinner- 50K VD
Total =100 K VD = 4.70 USD
3RD DAY
Breakfast - hotel
Lunch on ship
New Year's Eve dinner on ship
Total = 0 VD = 4.70 USD
4TH DAY
Breakfast on ship
Lunch on ship
Dinner- 60K VD
Total = 60K VD = 2.80 USD
5TH DAY
Breakfast - Hotel
Lunch - 40K VD
Snack -10K VD
TOTAL = 50K VD = 2.40 USD
6TH DAY
Breakfast-Hotel
Lunch - 35K VD
Total = 35 K VD = 1.70 USD
I didn't have the luxury to buy souvenirs in Hanoi because i was "under the weather". After every excursion of the day, all i wanted to do was to go straight to bed *I was even forced to get dinner when need be*
Total Expenses = 450/3 USD(tours)+ 251.30/3 USD(Hotel)+ 69.68 (Food & miscellaneous)
= 303.45 USD/PAX OR MYR 1093.22/PAX
*I BET YOU COULD DO BETTER THAN I DID..AS I STILL FEEL I COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IN GETTING CHEAPER RATES IF THE TRIP WASN'T SO LAST MINUTE T.T*
NOTES:
- 6000 Vietnam Dong is approximately RM 1 *as of December 2014*
- We paid a total of approximately 450 USD for the whole tour during our sty in Vietnam (LAST MINUTE)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- I have to warn you though, most public toilets I had to use for my duration of the trip was not very clean. I recommend early precautions - get ready to do stationary squats ( i don't know what you call the position where your butt does not touch the disgusting toilet bowl) while doing your business, not forgetting wet tissues & hand sanitizers must be t hand at ll times etc.
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