Hey there everyone. I know it has been some time since I last wrote, but I have a bit of time available, so I decided to start delivering on that promise to write about my time in Hanoi. I am going to tell myself that this delay was intentional, sharing the information at a perfect time when you might be starting to plan your end of year vacation. One word of warning, there has been a lot of currency fluctuation in the last six months. so keep in mind that USD equivalent prices mentioned may have changed since I was there in December.
Those of you who follow along regularly will remember that I had started the trip in Ninh Binh and Cat Ba Island, and you will also remember that those were fantastic destinations. So, even if you unwisely decide to give Hanoi a pass, northern Vietnam still has plenty to offer. I won’t go into a lot of details, but I made the comfortable 3.5 hour trip from Cat Ba to Hanoi with Cat Ba Express, arriving at 4:00 PM.
My room in the old quarter at Home Town Cha Hotel which I had booked on Agoda for a cost of just 11, 310 INR (About $120 USD) for 9 nights was modest, very centrally located, safe feeling, and more than adequate for my needs.
My first order of business was to go out to find a suitcase. Unfortunately I have forgotten the name of the place, but it was a highly recommended local luggage shop which was not that far away. The hard side case spinner wheel case had a cost of 600,000 VNY (around $23 USD) which I think I probably paid for with Moreta, but again, I forgot to write it down. If you look online for where to buy in the old quarter, that’s the place which will likely come up. They have a decent selection from very basic to more luxurious bags. As my purpose was to have a simple functional bag to put food in to take home, I of course opted for the cheapest thing which looked like it would work for the flight back to India.
I dropped the suitcase back at the room at 5:09 PM and then immediately headed out to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, where at 6:04 PM I bought a ticket for the 1:45 PM show on the following day, paying 200,000 VND (7.50 USD) via the Moreta app. Tickets can be had for as little as 100,000 VND, but if you have traveled to Hanoi already, the difference is not significant, so you may as well get the better tickets. Do note that these shows sell out, so if its high season, don’t depend on being able to get seats the same day. However, as there are several shows a day, if you have a couple days of flexibility, it shouldn’t be a problem.
From there I decided to try to find something for dinner. At 7:45 PM, by sheer chance, I ended up at Bun Cha Ta Hanoi. I really had no idea about the reputation, but this is evidently a rather famous eatery in the city. It doesn’t look fancy from the outside and it looks even less fancy inside. Despite its fame, you might even be likely to not give the place a chance.
Seating is done mostly at long tables, and they just sit you wherever a spot is available. At least when I was there, they were very busy, and the server seemed a bit frazzled. However, she helpfully pointed out the recommended dish, which I agreed to get along with a Hanoi beer. The food, which arrived very quickly, was delicious and hearty, and for a total price of 150,000 VND ($5.75 USD) the price was great for my first meal in Hanoi. Furthermore, the seating arrangement encourages casual conversation with strangers, which is an added plus for a solo traveler such as myself. I think the whole experience could be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect, but I encourage you to try it, especially if you like tasty pork dishes.
Using the Moreta app, I paid my bill at 8:22 PM and set out to wander the vibrant streets. At 9:34 PM I came across some some sort of a cultural exhibit in a temple near my hotel. Entrance was free, and I had time on my hands. So, I decided to check it out. There were several types of items, but carved buffalo horn seemed to be a big focus. Many of the items were available for purchase, and I remember thinking that the prices seemed reasonable, but I wasn’t really in shopping mode.
From there, it was a quick walk back to my room where I arrived at 10:30 PM. Despite it being December, it was just a tiny bit too warm, and there was also a fair amount of noise from the street. So, I decided to turn on the air conditioning unit which served the dual purpose of generating white noise and also making it a bit more comfortable to drift off.
Considering that I had only been in the city for 8 hours, I felt that I had accomplished quite a bit, and I was also eager to see what the next day would bring. What about you? Do you have any questions about anything so far? What about that restaurant, would you eat there, and if not, why not? As always, I look forward to responding to your comments and questions. Let me hear from you and keep following along to see how things went with the rest of the trip!
Travels with Jay 