Hanoi seems unreal upon arrival, it is completely overwhelming to the senses in all ways imaginable, and simply fantastic! From the motorbikes to the developing skyline, this is a city in motion. 

EXPERIENCE

We arrived to Hanoi after our excursion from Halong Bay. I must say Ho Chi Minh City was preferable to me, but we also had a great time exploring this city. Highlights included some hilarious mud bath massages at a local parlor, the amazing street food and the lively night markets. We also checked out the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the country’s former leader is embalmed under a glass casket — strange but worth seeing. Take a walk around the Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of the city, while it’s not exactly picturesque, it is a hub of activity and it’s an exciting spot to witness the bustle. We also checked out St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the Old Quarter. 

Two of us took an exciting day trip from here to a place called La Mat. This is a snake village outside of the city that raises many of the snakes for eating. This is not very frequented by tourists. Our cab driver was so shocked we wanted to visit this place that he decided to join us. This ended up being a good thing since no one spoke English and it was not clear how to see the snakes. The cobra farm ended up being terrifying, yet highly entertaining. The day ended with the owner of the farm letting us sample some of his snake wine, made from the exact cobra that paralyzed his maimed hand. 

STAY

While here we stayed in the Golden Sun 4 Hotel. This was a nice enough spot — clean and in a nice location. We were finishing out trip while staying here so looking for comfy beds more than anything. The staff was welcoming and kindly helped arrange our airport transfer and visit to La Mat. They even provided a fashion critique, and informed us we needed to change from our shorts before heading to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (strict dress code for that one).

EAT

Like all of Vietnam, the food was a highlight! We ate well and often tried street food or ate from local vendors in night markets. The Tamarind Cafe stands out as a favorite. We also loved Quan An Ngon which has a food stall vibe and allowed us to sample lots of local goodies and mingle with a really great global crowd. Our final meal at La Place ended hilariously, when we enjoyed ourselves so much we all decided to buy a t-shirt. Upon informing our server we would each like one, he shouted across the entire restaurant to the front desk, “I need four SUPA SIZE!” Haha, clearly we enjoyed the cuisine 😉