Tag: puppet

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Hanoi is chaotic, frantic, hot, full of petrol fumes, chock-a-block with traffic, bright and colourful and absolutely charming. Read below on how to make the most of your time here even if Hanoi is just a necessary stop to catch your flight.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

Hanoi airport has flights all over the world and Hanoi also has bus and train connections all over Vietnam – anywhere you want to go, you can.

Most accomodation will book a transfer to/from the airport or to anywhere else you want to go if you prefer to travel by car. We spend approximately 30 USD each way on our airport transfers for a 16-seater car. A standard car will be much less!

Another transfer that tourists often make by car is to Halong Bay (its quite a long journey by bus and bus is a little too unpredictable if you are getting on a cruise, plus there are no trains that cover this route). Our family of 7 took a 16-seater private car and paid 140 USD for the one way journey – again you can book this through your hotel. I don’t recommend booking a transfer through your cruise company as they charge per passenger and will pick up other passengers rather than provide a private transfer (making the journey longer and less comfortable).

Accommodation:

In Hanoi, it is best to stay in the Old Quarter area which sits to the north and west of Hoan Kiem Lake. If you are staying in Hanoi on multiple occasions (ie. after and before your international flight) then its a good idea to stay in a couple of different hotels so you can explore a slightly different area of the old town.

Our top mid-range picks are Hanoi Media Hotel and Spa which has incredibly friendly staff, family rooms, breakfast included and is only 1 minute walk to the lake or Maison D’Orient Hotel which has lots of character and is close to great shops and eateries but there is no lift so expect to walk up lots of stairs.

Food and Drink:

Hanoi has lots of fantastic options for food and drink. The street food is also amazing here but we prefer restaurants as they are more comfortable with kids, and are an escape from the heat.
Here are some of our favorite finds:

• Cong Caphe – There are lots of branches of this chic cafe styled on communist era Vietnam. We enjoyed coffees at the one on Phố Nhà Thờ, 27 near St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
• Met – There are 2 branches of this chain restaurant in Hanoi Old Town. It serves really tasty local food at reasonable prices. They also have lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
• Café Ga Đông Dương – This is a sweet little cafe on train street serving up drinks and giving you the best seats to watch the train go by.
• Laika Cafe – Great coffee, smoothies and juices. They only serve drinks.
• S’Patisserie – coffee and pastries right next to the lake
• Luk Lak Vietnamese Restaurant – a bit out of the way and very overpriced but amazing local food with a gourmet twist.
• Tiệm Mỳ Tiên Sơn – Noodles and Dimsum – Excellent noodles and dim sum – cheap and cheerful quick eat.

Getting around:

You can walk anywhere around the old city – a Cyclo is another great option if you need to get somewhere a bit further afield or are too hot to walk. Both of these options mean you can see all that Hanoi has to offer which is often just hidden around the next corner.

Top Tip:

Learn to cross the road like a local – you will need to in Hanoi. Always walk slowly forwards into traffic (never backwards) and the motorbikes and cars will navigate around you.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Water puppet show, Hanoi

This is a delightful and short (60 minute) puppet show in water unlike anything you have ever seen before. Centrally located in the Old Town of Hanoi you will be able to walk there from your hotel. It’s great for adults and children alike. Tickets were very affordable too. Show times vary but generally take place 5 times a day at approx. 3 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. You can buy a ticket on the day. Make sure you go to the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre as there are a few other shows around.

Old Quarter Night Market, Hanoi

The Hanoi Night Market is only on on the weekends but is a great experience if you are in Hanoi at the right time. The streets around the market become pedestrian only so you can wander at leisure and the market has lots of great souvenirs to purchase as do all the shops surrounding it. There are also a few stalls selling food and drink. You can purchase ANYTHING from children’s toys, local crafts, electronics to shoes. The market starts up about 7pm and is open until 11pm.

If you aren’t in Hanoi for a weekend there is still lots of great shopping to be had everywhere. Hang Ma street is a great option for starting to wander the shops – then you can branch off in any direction to continue.

Train Street, Hanoi

Train Street in Hanoi is the coolest experience – seeing a train pass by you so close is such an adrenaline rush. It’s also a great spot for pictures. Obviously caution is recommended but its actually pretty safe and the locals are great at making sure you are never in danger. The trains are scheduled at set times of the day so you will have a lot of advance warning of the approaching train and the locals will let you know when you need to get out of the way and where it is safe to watch from. The Train Street is ‘officially’ closed but if you turn left when facing the main entrance to the street and then right down the next road someone will find you and lead you through a tunnel to come out into the open of the street. Try to arrive 30 mins before the train is expected to get a good spot. The train definitely comes through at 3:30pm every day and then 7pm in the opposite direction.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is lovely and peaceful to walk around in the mornings, particularly if you like to take it easy or just watch and observe city life. Grab a pastry and a coffee and take a detour to take a look at the impressive Hanoi Opera House and on the other side of the lake St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

Ride a Cyclo around the city

Hanoi is such a great place to watch all the hustle and bustle of a city and what better way to do that than the novelty of a Cyclo. The Cyclo is a bicycle taxi that you can find all over Hanoi. They are pretty pricy and more of a tourist attraction than an actual convenient way to get around but they are such a novelty and the slight breeze provides a welcome break from the heat of the city.

Hoa Lo Prison

Hoa Lo Prison is otherwise known as the Hanoi Hilton. It was Hanoi’s prison through many distinct periods of Vietnam’s history and so a visit gives you a lot of insight into Vietnam as a country, the Vietnam war and American involvement in Vietnam. Its a fascinating part of ther country’s history. The prison is open from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and then from 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM and its an easy walk here from the Old Town.

I hope you find these tips helpful and let me know if you enjoyed your visit to Hanoi!

Erika xx