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Travel Tips & Experiences

How to get to Hue from Hanoi

How to get to Hue from Hanoi

670km of road connects Hue to Hanoi, which, unbelievably makes it the second closest big city connected to the capital after Da Nang. As visitors on sleeper buses can attest, there is not much in the way of big tourist attractions in the northern expanse between Hanoi and Hue, and the drive between the two is, largely, a fairly uneventful one. Nevertheless, modern conveniences now allow an overland trip that spans half the country to take just one night, and much less in the case of flying, meaning there are many more options for how to get to Hue from Hanoi than at any time previously.Hanoi to Hue by MotorbikeThough this is far from the most popular part of the tourist route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are several stops along this northern stretch of road that will liven things up immeasurably. About 16 - 18 hours of travel time means that driving from Hanoi to Hue by motorbike is possible over the course of a few days.To make a full itinerary of the trip, it is possible to leave Hanoi and stop at Ninh Binh on the way, where you can see magnificent limestone karsts flanking the sides of rivers and take sampan boat rides through untapped forested marshland. From here, you can head further inland to the magnificent Cuc Phuong National Park, where ancient caves are speckled across vast cliffs of tree-topped limestone. Take the wonderfully scenic Ho Chi Minh Highway down to Ben En National Park, one of the lesser-explored areas on the way from Hanoi to Hue, before pressing on to the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, home of the largest known cave in the world and some of the best scenery in the country. Hue lies a final 4 hours away from here and requires crossing of the DMZ, marking the division line between North and South Vietnam.Hanoi to Hue by BusWhat was once a completely unthinkable overland journey from Hanoi to Hue is now achievable over the space of one night, thanks to new roads connecting the current capital to its predecessor. Tourist bus companies heading south from Hanoi, with the overall aim of Ho Chi Minh City in mind, start their first leg with a mammoth 16-hour drive from Hanoi to Hue, stopping only to pick up, drop off and refuel.The usual bus companies make this trip, Camel Travel, Hung Thanh and Queen Café VIP, for an average price of between 300,000 VND and 450,000 VND ($12 - $19 USD). This is a cheap, no-frills sleeper bus, so don’t expect the most comfortable ride or the most outstanding customer service.Check our best tour to Hue: Explore Hue Countryside by bicycle, Hue city full day, Hue- DMZ full day, and Hue Culinary at night Hanoi to Hue by TrainAs the more expensive way to travel from Hanoi to Hue, the train, like the bus, is another overnight experience, but one with more speed, more comfort and less stress. The price of around 950,000 VND ($41 USD) for a soft seat reflects this, while a 4-bed or 6-bed sleeper cabin can be about 1,275,000 – 1,400,000 VND ($55 - $60 USD). There are 6 services running daily on the Reunification Express; 4 overnight and 2 during the day. The ones during the day leave at 06:00 am and 09:00 am, arriving in the evening time, and the overnight trains run rather irregularly at 19.30pm, 20.05pm, 20.10pm and 22.20pm. In general, it takes less time on the train to get from Hanoi to Hue than on the bus, though estimated arrival times are often a bit sporadic depending on if someone has parked their motorbike on the train tracks.Hanoi to Hue by FlightBy far the fastest way to travel from Hanoi to Hue is by aeroplane, with companies like VietJet, Hahn Air and Vietnam Airlines connecting the two cities. Flight time is just over 1 hour and can cost as little as 750,000 VND ($32 USD), but prices are usually more around the 1,150,000 – 1,500,000 VND ($50 - $65 USD) mark.

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How to Spend One Day in Hanoi

How to Spend One Day in Hanoi

Through 1000 years of being the political and economic centre of Vietnam, Hanoi has accumulated a history that many other cities around the world would envy. Its proud traditions are still worn very much on its sleeves, through its pagodas, temples and ancient universities. Even the influences of the French colonials who lived here remain an important part of Hanoi; their grand buildings flank the sides of wide boulevards lined with overarching trees, as a constant reminder of from what this modern Hanoi has emerged.Though the prestige of the capital requires a few days to soak up, many tourists fly into Hanoi just to visit its outer attractions like Sapa, Halong Bay and Ninh Binh. For those pushed for time, we hope that this guide on how to spend one day in Hanoi will prove useful. This is not an itinerary, but a suggestion of how to travel, what to eat, and things to do in Hanoi, that we at Incredible Asia Journeys hope will prove useful for your trip to the beating heart of Vietnam.Hoan Kiem LakeMorningIf you’re looking to just spend one day in Hanoi, then you’re going to want to start early. Life in Hanoi begins before sunrise, with elderly ladies rolling outside in their invariably flowery pajamas and beginning their morning exercises, either performed solo along the pavements or through group classes in parks.Start with breakfast at about 6:00 am by finding any of the buzzing masses of locals, sitting on plastic chairs and shoveling hot phở into their mouths. 25,000 – 30,000 VND should see you full with a delicious bowl of Vietnam’s national dish. If beef-stock soup doesn’t sound like your idea of a good breakfast, you can start instead with bún riêu, a tomato-based soup with tofu – the perfect way to begin your one day in Hanoi.Starting this early gives you a great chance to watch the sunrise from Long Bien Bridge. Following breakfast, either walk or take a motorbike taxi to Long Bien Bridge, a favourite spot for photographers because of the colourful train that passes regularly through the rustic iron girders along the bridge. On either side of the train tracks, you will experience the continuous whirring of motorbikes, as commuters cross the Red River, illuminated by a vivid red sun that rises from the east. Buy some fresh bananas from any of the vendors on the bridge who collect them from the verdant plantations running underneath, along the banks of the Red River.Long Bien BridgeHead back out into the Old Quarter and follow the activities of the locals over a Vietnamese coffee, one of the most unmissable Vietnam experiences. For 20,000 VND, you can sit in a street-side café and watch the organised chaos of Hanoi’s roads. Tread the paths of the Old Quarter’s 36 ancient roads, where people of the same trade have settled alongside each other, creating close-knit communities and a very outward-living atmosphere. Explore the various winding alleyways, where smoke from both cooking and incense combine and seep upwards through the tangled mass of electricity cables. Getting lost in the Old Quarter is not only inevitable, it’s one of the quintessential things to do in Hanoi, as so many small and personable treasures can be located down its side streets.Continue your Hanoi one-day itinerary with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous POW camp where former senator John McCain spent many long and excruciatingly difficult years, along with Everett Alvarez Jr., the first POW of the American War. A tour around the prison will reveal some of the horrors (if a touch biased) that the captured Americans went through, along with a full account of the French torturing of Vietnamese prisoners during their colonial occupation.Money SpentDistance TravelledBreakfast: 50,000 VNDHoan Kiem Lake to Long Bien Bridge: 1.5kmBananas (0.5kg): 20,000 VNDLong Bien Bridge to Old Quarter: 1kmVietnamese coffee: 30,000 VNDOld Quarter to Hoa Lo Prison: 1kmHoa Lo Prison entrance fee: 30,000 VNDMotorbike taxi: ~35,000 VNDTotal: ~165,000 VNDTotal: 3.5kmAfternoonRest and refuel for the rest of the day’s activities at 12:00 pm with a classic Hanoian dish, bún chả. This meal has been a firm lunch favourite of the northern Vietnamese for years, but a visit to Bun Cha Huong Lien by then-president Barack Obama in 2016 pushed this dish of noodles, leafy greens, pork rind and meatballs into the international limelight. For 30,000 VND, you can be following in the footsteps of America’s widely loved president, and kicking off the afternoon of your one day in Hanoi with one of the city’s most delicious meals.Jump into a taxi or onto the back of a Grab bike after lunch to check out Hanoi’s attractions that lie outside the Old Quarter. Around Ba Dinh Square, you will find a whole host of history-soaked sites, as well as the large open square itself where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent country, following over 60 years of rule by the French. Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house is located just behind here, and his body lies in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the middle of the square (closed in the afternoons). Take the time to check out the One-Pillar Pagoda before taking a cursory look at the bright yellow building used by the French Governor-General of Indochina, the Presidential Palace.Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh SquareWalking north from here for about 5 minutes, you will reach Thanh Nien, the beautiful tree-lined road that snakes in between the twin lakes of Tay Ho and Truc Bach. Grab a cheap bò bía (coconut roll) as a belated dessert from one of the roadside vendors and take a stroll around the quiet shores of Truc Bach Lake, where John McCain crash landed and was captured after being shot out of the sky.  The views across Tay Ho Lake are of the city’s skyline, and this makes the perfect westerly-facing platform to enjoy sunset, which is one of the most naturally beautiful things to see in Hanoi. Explore the lakeside outcrop of the beautiful Tran Quoc Pagoda to learn more about the city’s Buddhist history.In the last daytime hours of your Hanoi one-day itinerary, take a motorbike taxi to the Temple of Literature, just south of Ba Dinh Square. Van Mieu, as it is known in Vietnamese, is the country’s oldest university, specialising in the teaching of Confucian principles for the incredibly small collection of gifted students who passed the entry tests. The names of successful graduates are engraved on steles atop statues of tortoises, surrounded by beautiful gardens, temples and areas of study.Money SpentDistance TravelledLunch: 50,000 VNDOld Quarter to Ba Dinh Square: 3kmHo Chi Minh’s Stilt House: 40,000 VNDBa Dinh Square to Truc Bach: 1kmTemple of Literature entrance fee: 10,000 VNDTruc Bach to the Temple of Literature: 2.5kmMotorbike taxi: ~70,000 VNDTemple of Literature to Old Quarter: 2.5kmTotal: ~170,000 VNDTotal: 9kmEveningReturn to the Old Quarter to enjoy an evening of either relaxation or nightlife. Start the whole thing with some mỳ xào bò (fried instant noodles with beef) or, if you’re slightly bored of noodles by this point, cơm rang dưa bò (fried rice with beef and pickled vegetables) for around 40,000 VND. If you’re looking for what to do in one day in Hanoi during the weekend, then head to the city’s night market, which runs the length of Hang Dao street from Hoan Kiem Lake to Dong Xuan Market. You can find great deals on clothes, electronics and food here, as well as having the opportunity to practice your haggling skills with the vendors.You may want to return to your hotel or retire to a café for some relaxation, but if you’re feeling more social, you can head to Hanoi’s famous Bia Hoi Corner to drink some of the cheapest beer in the world. Bia Hoi is brewed daily and is a very light, but refreshing beer, and the swarms of people that crowd the blue plastic stools of the Bia Hoi Corner can attest to this. This is one of the best spots in the city for cultural exchange; you can learn a lot more about Vietnam from the friendly locals here.Have "Bia Hoi" in the Old QuarterIf, afterwards, you don’t feel like drawing your one day in Hanoi to a close, walk up one of the adjacent roads of the Bia Hoi Corner to find a plethora of nightclubs, most famously amongst the twinkling lights of Ta Hien Street. This narrow alleyway is flanked by bars and clubs, where patrons spill out onto the pavement – a nightly communal atmosphere is a given. Just around the corner lies Hang Buom and Ma May, two streets where the party continues until the police shut it down (or try to, at least).Money SpentDistance TravelledDinner: 700,000 VNDNight Market to Bia Hoi Corner: 400mNight MarketBia Hoi Corner to Ta Hien Street: 5mBia Hoi: 7000 – 10000 VND per glassNightclubTotal: Depends on your shopping and drinking habits!Total: 405mOf course, all of the above is just a suggestion, though it guarantees you the best of Vietnam’s capital in a short timeframe. Ideally, you would stay for at least three days to get the most out of the city, but with time or budget pressures, this is a comprehensive suggestion on how to spend one day in Hanoi. 

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5 Best Indian Restaurants in Hanoi

5 Best Indian Restaurants in Hanoi

Many visitors from India and other countries want to find some options of the best Indian restaurants in Hanoi , Vietnam to perfect their wonderful trip in Vietnam. In this post, we are pleased to recommend you 5 of the best Indian Restaurants in Hanoi to enjoy. Dalcheeni Restaurant Located near the West Lake, Dalcheeni is an ideal Indian restaurant to taste delicious foods in the beautiful space. There are three floors for visitors to choose. Especially the third floor serves a private dining area for private parties of 25-30 people. Dalcheeni serves the Authentic Royal Indian Cuisine with carefully handpicked spices and flavours. All ingredients for dishes here are imported from India and then cooked by Indian and Vietnamese chefs who are skillful. Dalcheeni Restaurant Food Location: No. 100 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi Vietnam Opening hours: From Monday to Friday: 10.30 am to 2.30 pm, and 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm                              Saturday and Sunday: 10.30 am to 10.30 pm Contact: (+84) 432668453 - [email protected] How to get to Dalcheeni Restaurant From Hanoi Old Quarter, you can get on bus No. 31 to go to 48-50 Au Co Street, and then take a 650m walk to the Dalcheeni Restaurant. It takes you about 30 minutes to get there. You can take a taxi for around 4.2 km to reach Dalcheeni Restaurant. Little India Restaurant Little India Restaurant is one of the most favourite Indian restaurant in Hanoi voted by TripAdvisor with a menu of many delicious Indian foods with reasonable price, especially Indian Bread and Thali. The menu of Little India features a diverse selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with spices and flavours for everyone. Little India is well-known for Tandoori dishes from meat, kebabs and bread. It is served as an appetizer with Salad, Yogurt and Mint Sauce, or a main dish with Salad and Naan bread. Little India Restaurant’s chefs always use locally available spice, herbs, vegetables and fruits for your yummy dishes in the restaurant. Little India Restaurant Location: No. 32 Hang Tre Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam. Opening hours: 11.00 am to 2.30 pm, and 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm from Monday to Sunday Contact: (+84) 43926 1859 - [email protected] How to get to Little India Restaurant Little India Restaurant is located in Hanoi Old Quarter, so if you are in the Old Quarter, you can walk to the restaurant. It may take 15 minutes for 1 km or 1.5 km. Little India Restaurant Food Namaste Hanoi Restaurant Namaste Hanoi is the restaurant with the most varied menus in comparison with all other Indian restaurants in Hanoi. With the elegant decor based on the rich culture of India, Namaste Hanoi is one of the cosiest places to enjoy dinner with the customers. The menu offers customers with various dishes from curries of northern India to the hot and spicy dishes of its south. Enjoy dinner at the restaurant will help customers get the best experiences with Indian foods. However, if you do not have much time to come and enjoy yummy food in the restaurant, Namaste Hanoi are happy to offer a free and quick delivery within a reasonable distance in Hanoi. Namaste Hanoi Restaurant Location: 46 Tho Nhuom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam Opening hours: 11.00 am to 02.30 pm, and 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm from Monday to Sunday Contact: (+84) 903266997 - [email protected] How to get to Namaste Hanoi Restaurant Namaste Hanoi Restaurant is at Tho Nhuom Street, so you can get there by bus No.01 from Hanoi Old Quarter (at Duong Thanh Street or Hang Cot Street). 7,000 VND for a bus ticket to get to the restaurant. Also, you can take a taxi for around 3 km to get to Namaste Hanoi Restaurant. It may take you 30-40 thousand VND. Foodshop 45 Restaurant Ranked the 5th on TripAdvisor, the Foodshop 45 is a friendly family-run restaurant because that the staffs of the restaurant are mainly members of the family, offering the yummy and fresh foods with reasonable price. Each member of the family take their responsibilities of cooking, running the dining room, delivering the foods and choosing the freshest and finest ingredients. Foodshop 45 Location: Branch 1: 59 Truc Bach Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam                    Branch 2: 32 Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam Opening hours: Restaurant: 10.00 am – 10.30pm, from Monday to Sunday Contact: Ms.Hue (+84) 903429128 - [email protected] How to get to Foodshop 45 Restaurant Take a taxi is the easiest way to get to Foodshop 45 Restaurant. Around 1-2 km from Hanoi Old Quarter to Foodshop 45 Restaurant. Tandoor Restaurant Tandoor Indian Restaurant is established in 1999 by two brothers from Bangalore. The restaurant is loved by many Indian tourists, tourists from other countries, and the Vietnamese people. The restaurant only uses imported spices to create classic dishes with modern elegance. Also, the cosy atmosphere of Tandoor Indian restaurant can make you enjoy more. Tandoor Restaurant Location: No. 24 Hang Be Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam Opening hours: 10.30 am to 10.30 pm, from Monday to Sunday Contact: (+84) 438245359 - [email protected] How to get to Tandoor Restaurant Like Little India Restaurant, Tandoor Restaurant is also located in Hanoi Old Quarter. So you can get to the restaurant easily if you stay at the Old Quarter. If you are far from 1 or 2 km, you can take a taxi to get there in a faster and easier way.

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What to Eat in Hanoi

What to Eat in Hanoi

In a city as well-famed for its food as Hanoi, you can easily be overwhelmed with the wealth of options available. The question of what to eat in Hanoi becomes an obsession when walking past the smoking griddles of meat, the boiling vat of broth or the glass case full of colourful meats and vegetables that grace almost every street in Vietnam’s capital. The smells, tastes and sounds of Hanoi go far behind the national bowl of Pho, a delicious dish but one that takes the limelight from other contenders. Here are our top 12 of the best foods to eat in Hanoi. Bún A feature in a lot of the most popular street food in Hanoi, Bun is a thin, round rice noodle usually served in a broth. Bún Chả (“Bun Cha”) One bowl of this heavy broth at lunchtime and you’ll likely do as the Vietnamese do; opt for a nap in the shade somewhere to recuperate. Bun cha is a mounded heap of bun noodles, beef patties in broth and assorted green vegetables; mild assembly is required to turn it into an actual meal, but the miniscule amount of effort becomes worth it after the first bite. As with every example of Hanoi street food, it is best eaten on a cheap plastic table with your legs in close contact with the legs of about 12 other people.  This is certainly the experience at Bun Cha Huong Lien, known affectionately as Bun Cha Obama after the former US President’s visit catapulted the tiny restaurant into fame. Anyone looking for a less touristy experience should try Bun Cha 34 Hang Than. Bun Cha Bún Riêu (“Bun Zee-oh”) With hints of a Western tomato soup, Bun Rieu continues to find favour among tourists trying the street food in Hanoi. The Asian influence prevails of course; bun noodles, pork, tofu, crab, tomato and assorted greens are served in a flavourful broth, usually for breakfast or lunch. Bun Rieu takes a lot of time to make so don’t be surprised to see Vietnamese ladies aggressively grinding paddy crabs in the early hours of the morning.  Try Bun Rieu - 16 Hang Luoc for the best Bun Rieu in the old quarter. Bun Rieu Cua Bún Bò Nam Bộ (“Bun Bar Nam Bow”)  An Instagram foodie’s dream, Bun Bo Nam Bo is a painting in a bowl. The whole dish is a cacophony of colour: white Bun noodles, brown beef, green lettuce, orange carrots, red chilis, all topped with crushed yellow peanuts. This is one of the few bun dishes where the broth lies at the bottom of the bowl, meaning you have to mix the dish when it arrives to avoid an unpleasant dry-to-soggy ratio. This is one of the best examples of what Hanoi food does so well, mixing several different ingredients to make one bowl with some serious flavour. You can have a cheap bowl of Bun Bo Nam Bo at Noodle and Roll - 39C Ly Quoc Su at any time, but at a more local venue, it will be hard to get it served past lunchtime. Bun Bo Nam Bo Phở Easily the most recognisable Vietnamese food around the world, Pho is actually the name of the noodle as well as the popular dish. Its thicker quality differentiates it from Bun noodles. Phở (“Fur”) The natural place to start with the top Pho dishes would be, correct – a bowl of Pho. There’s not much left to say about the popularity of this dish and how it has put Vietnamese food on the international stage. It is served country-wide as well as in most other countries around the world, varying greatly from place to place. The general consensus is that Hanoi Pho is the saltiest, Danang Pho is the spiciest and Ho Chi Minh City Pho is the sweetest, but the diversity in its preparation means that pho can really taste like anything. The standard recipe is Pho noodles, beef or chicken, onion, shallots, broth and a generous helping of spices. Usually, people who aren’t sure about what to eat in Hanoi head straight to the pho. You can get your fix of Hanoi Pho at Quan Pho Gia Truyen – 49 Bat Dan, but be prepared to queue and eat quickly because this restaurant is insanely popular. If the rush is too much for you, opt for the quieter Quan Bun & Pho 24 – 34 Cau Go. Pho Hanoi Phở Xào (“Fur Sao”) The less popular but no less tasty cousin of the ubiquitous bowl of Pho, Pho Xao is a stir-fried dish of beef, fried pho, onions, tomatoes and bok choy. Always inexplicably served as a small hill on an inconveniently tiny plate, Pho Xao is a quick fix for anyone looking for a tasty and filling dinner, even up until around 10.30pm. It may be one of the greasiest types of food in Hanoi, but it’s also one of the most flavourful. Pho Xao Phu My – 45 Bat Dan is a constantly popular place to get your Pho Xao fix, and not only because it gets the run-off of customers who don’t want to wait in line at Quan Pho Gia Truyen next door; the food is very good in its own right. Pho Xao Phở Cuốn (“Fur Koo-ern”) Yet another way to serve Pho, Pho Cuon comes in roll form and is packed inside with all sorts of Vietnamese classics. Pho Cuon looks rather like a rubbery cigar when it’s served, but the delicious combination of Pho, beef, lettuce and coriander comes with about 10 or 12 rolls per serving, along with a bowl of fish sauce with papaya or other dipping varieties. A short walk out of the Old Quarter and to Hanoi’s Truc Bach district will open up the world of Pho Cuon to you. Pho Cuon 31 – 31 Nga Xu has fantastic rolls and is perfectly located for an evening stroll around beautiful Truc Bach Lake afterwards. Hanoi Street Food Tour is one of the best choices for you to enjoy these dishes in Hanoi. Pho Cuon Cơm (Rice) Is there any other culture in the world more adept at making different varieties of rice than the Vietnamese? Cơm Bình Dân (“Kerm Bin Zuhn”) Translating to ‘rice of the people’, Com Binh Dan is a very straightforward affair. Walk in and point to the visible items of food that you want mounded on your plate of rice, sit down to eat, pay and leave. Its simplicity is often its greatest asset, as Com Binh Dan restaurants usually get crowded with people at lunch or dinnertime, all of whom are looking to get served and get out with their takeaway box in under a minute. The pricing system differs depending on what you choose and the grouchiness of the person serving you on any given day, but it’s usually one of the cheapest Hanoi street foods available at around $1.20. For any backpackers overwhelmed by the choice of what to eat in Hanoi, the easy look-and-point technique of Com Binh Dan makes ordering this food a simple task. It is everywhere in Hanoi and you’ll likely walk past several eateries in your time in the capital, but a reliably solid collection of restaurants can be found around 206 Doi Can, near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Com Binh Dan Xôi (“Soy”) Available usually for breakfast, Xoi is sticky rice with a coating of minced pork, chicken, egg, corn and peanut on top. These are usually individual flavours served from a cart on the street, but you can ask for “thập cấm” (tuhp cuhm) for a little bit of everything. Like other Asian countries, Xoi also comes as a dessert - as mango sticky rice or coconut sticky rice, making it a very versatile component of Hanoi cuisine. In some places in Vietnam, the sweet version of the rice comes in a rainbow of colours, just in case eating plain white rice wasn’t stimulating enough for you. Xoi Yen - 35B Nguyen Huu Huan is a great place to try out the different varieties around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Xoi Yen Bánh (Bread) Although the direct translation is ‘bread’, Banh actually refers to dishes made with dough. Bánh Mì (“Ban Me”) Along with an adopted love of bakeries, the Banh Mi was brought over by the French in the late 19th century and often referred to as Bánh Tây (Western bread) until the Vietnamese made it their own. The Banh Mi is a simple crusty baguette stuffed with either egg, sausage, pork, and a bunch of fillers like vegetables, pate and herbs. The Banh Mi is another example of Hanoi street food that has become famous worldwide; it’s cheap, it’s easy and it’s often a very simple answer to the question of what to eat in Hanoi. You can find Banh Mi everywhere in Hanoi, from old ladies selling it on the street to higher-budget chain holes-in-the-wall. You’ll have to search around for the street vendors as they like to move regularly to avoid Hanoi’s stringent street food laws. As far as chains are concerned Banh Mi Pho are probably the best in the Old Quarter, while Bami King are kings throughout the rest of the city. Bami Bread Bánh Bao (“Ban B-ow”) More outside influence for this tasty snack, this time of Chinese origin. The Banh Bao is the Vietnamese dim sum; not coming in the overwhelming variety that the Cantonese classic usually sports, but instead settling on just a handful of reliable flavours. The most popular steamed bun contains ground pork and egg, but variations with chicken, mushrooms or glass noodles are available, and even dessert buns containing custard or coconut. It might be hard to find this breakfast snack on the street in the afternoon, usually the ladies who sell it have moved onto other ventures by midday. However, you can normally find them at bakeries such as Anh Hoa Bakery in the Old Quarter. Banh Bao Chè (“Cheh”) Those with a sweet tooth, and a fairly sweet, sweet tooth at that, might want to try Che, a fruit, jelly and coconut milk concoction served hot or cold. There is an astounding amount of variety to what is, essentially, three ingredients in a plastic cup. From relatively conventional flavours like taro and milk to complete rainbows of fruit and jelly that you can order by using that special phrase “thập cấm”.  Che Chuoi (banana with Che) definitely belongs to the category of best food to eat in Hanoi. This and a few other varieties can, unsurprisingly, be found on the street, but you should head to Che Thai Doi Can – 75 Doi Can for the full gamut of amazing flavours. Che Thai Cà Phê Trứng (“Café Churng”) Not strictly a dessert, but it tastes like a tiramisu and is a great representative for Hanoi street food, Ca Phe Trung (rather unappealingly translated to ‘egg coffee’) is whisked egg yolk in coffee, served hot or cold and consumed with a spoon. It’s sweet but not sickly, and comes with a caffeine boost to continue your explorations of finding what to eat in Hanoi. It’s very unlikely that you will find Ca Phe Trung in any other district than the Old Quarter. Though delicious, it is not very popular among locals and places like Giang Café - 39 Nguyen Huu Huan will likely be full of foreign and Vietnamese tourists, but that really takes nothing away from the exceptional flavour you can find here. Cafe Trung

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How To Get To Halong Bay From Hanoi

How To Get To Halong Bay From Hanoi

Halong Bay is the most popular destination nowadays for all the travellers when they come to Vietnam. The outstanding karst outcroppings in Halong Bay are made of 3000 years of chemical reactions between dripping water and limestone. It is truly outclassed and unforgettable experience. Located in the Northeast of Vietnam in Quang Ninh Province, Halong Bay is about 180 kilometres away from the Hanoi City Center. Most of the people’s concern is how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi ? This article will give you some idea about the means of transports to choose. These are some best tours from Hanoi to Halong you may be interested in: + Halong Bay Day Trip + Halong Bay 2 day 1 night Cruise + Halong Bay 3 day 2 night Cruise 1. Shuttle Bus Local Coach How to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi with a Local Coach? There are many means of transportation such as bus, airplane, train, motorbike, bike, etc. However, the coach is the most popular, helpful, and easy for everyone to move from place to place. All you need to do is just check the time of coach, get a taxi to the Coach station, buy a ticket (or you can buy online) then you can travel by coach easily. Normally, for the trip to Halong Bay, almost of coaches will have the same route and depends on Coach Providers, you will have to go to the My Dinh Station or Gia Lam Station. For example, if you travel with Kumho Viet Thanh and Phuc Xuyen Limousine, you have to go straight to My Dinh Station (takes about 45 minutes by taxi from Old Quarter). Nevertheless, if you travel with Dai Phat Limousine, you could go to Gia Lam Station (about 30 minutes from Old Town). Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Local Coach What is the duration of the local coach? The journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay by local coach usually takes about 4.5 – 5 hours’ drive (including the short break in a middle way). The price for a one-way ticket can be from USD3.5$ – USD7$ depends on the quality and size of the coach. The earliest coach can start at 06:00 am and the latest one is at 20:00. Some of Coach will leave each 1 or 2 hours depends on Coach Providers. The first coach come back to Hanoi is at 12:00 and the last one is about 21:30. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Everyone knows that local coaches will be cheaper than other transportations. You do not even have to know the way to the place; you just need to choose the correct route for the coach. Along the way, you also could see the beauty of landscapes and take some photos. However, there are several difficulties with a local coach. Firstly, most of the local coaches are for local people so that is the reason why the sale person and drivers only speak Vietnamese. You could have some misunderstanding during all the time travelling with the local coach or when you meet your stop, they could not understand you well. Secondly, the local coach stations are not in the Old Quarter. Normally, you have to take a taxi to get there and it takes about 45 – 60 minutes depends on traffic. It is also an inconvenient thing. Finally, since the local coach has departed time quite early and sometimes you could not know if they cancelled the coach or not. You will not have an enjoyable holiday if you always be in hurry and worry about the time of coach. The local coach may not run as the schedule because they try to get more customers on the ways to full fill their bus for better benefit. Luxury Bus How to catch this to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi? Besides the local coach, there are luxury buses as known as the tourist bus, which provides high-quality and has a smaller size than a local bus. With the luxury bus, you will have a better service; feel more comfortable and convenient than the other one. The luxury bus provides 9 to 16 seats such as Ford Transit, Mercedes Benz, D-car, etc and some have free wifi. This kind of bus serves foreign customer so they mostly pick up the passengers from the Old Quarter. Some luxury buses are available at the local Coach stations; others offer a pick-up service in your hotel. You could find this bus through tourist bus agencies or book direct to the website of the common bus or call them. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Luxury Coach What is the duration of the luxury coach? For the luxury bus, it does not pick up the passengers in the middle of the way or along the way. You just only have a short break about 15 -20 minutes on the way. Compare to the local coach, the luxury bus will take less time to travel from Hanoi Center to Halong Bay about 3 – 3.5 hours. The price for this kind of bus is about from USD10$ to USD20$/way/ticket/person depending on the brand name and instant service on the bus. There are several good brand names such as Hoang Long VIP, Minh Anh Limousine or Ha Vy Limousine. They will depart around 07:30 to 08:30 depending on provider’s schedule. What are the advantages? As a luxury bus serves foreign tourists, the salesperson and driver could speak a little bit English (enough to understand the easy sentences and common problems while travelling with them). If you only spend one-day trip, the luxury bus should be a perfect choice for you. Furthermore, you no need to go too far to catch the bus. It is very easy and convenient to book the ticket and you no need to worry about its service. It is definitely better than a local coach. 2. Private Car/Taxi Private Car If you travel with a group, family or even you just want to have your own private area, private car or taxi would be the second option for you. You will have more space to put your luggage along with you; can chitchat with your companions. Especially for the businessperson, the private car is a good choice if you want to work on the way. You could book the private car on the website of the famous and good company, for example, Viantrans and get the price. You also can call directly to book the car with them. The driver just can understand simple sentences enough to communicate with you. The price range is from USD100$ - USD150$ for 2 ways depending on the brand name of car (sedans, SUV, or Van) one way or round trip. Normally the price includes the parking fee, driver fee, petrol, tolls fee. The duration of the private car would be around 3 – 3.5 hours almost is the same as the luxury bus. You could leave at 08:00 or 08:30 according to your schedule. Taxi Similar to the private car, taxi also considers being the second option for private transfer. Despite choosing a good brand name for private transfer above, you could choose a reliable taxi including Hanoi Taxi Group, Mai Linh Taxi, ABC Taxi, etc. The price is from USD80$ - USD100$ for 1 way depending on taxi size and the taxi driver could not speak English as well. What are the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a private car/ taxi? As mentioned before, if you are the one who does not want to follow something with schedules or if you like the privacy, private car/taxi would be a perfect choice for you. You could have time to take some nice photos, you could work during all the time travelling without any disturb from others. However, besides the advantages, you may have to deal with some hidden danger that we could not predict it. For example, we are not sure if the driver may overcharge you more for some reasons along the way. You are alone and you do not know what to do because you also could not communicate well with them. It seems not a good idea for those who travel for the first time and have no idea or experience with a taxi and the route before. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Taxi 3. Motorbike If you are a motorcycle traveller; you love adventure and love to conquer the road, the motorbike is not a bad idea to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay. You could have a valuable chance to discover every local thing you see along the way. You could manage the time effectively by yourself during 3.5 – 4-hour drive with different routes as well. This is your holiday, your schedule and your time so you can decide to do anything you like. Besides, the price to hire a motorbike is much cheaper than a private car or taxi. How to rent a motorbike? Nowadays, it is not hard to find a motorbike-renting store. You could find many shops in the Old Quarter from the manual motorcycle to the automatic one. Some of the shops provide also the motocross for travelling in a special route. They could speak English quite good and they can give you some advice when you choose a motorcycle. You could see some websites for motorbike renting or James Hanoi motorbike. Otherwise, you could ask the hotel to give you some suggestions. There are several brand name of motorcycle such as Honda, Yamaha is common to rent. The price of renting and deposit this motorcycle for one day is around from USD6$ = USD20$/day depend on different motorcycles type and schedule. They will ask your photocopy of passport beside renting fee and deposit. What are the disadvantages of the motorbike? Easy to see that if you would like to travel by the motorbike, you must always make sure that you have enough health conditions and good driving skill. Just imagine with 180 km distance from Hanoi to Halong Bay, if your motorcycle has any problems, you have to find a place to fix it. Moreover, what if it rains hard along the way? There is a very high possibility to have an accident and get lost because of the weather. In conclusion, the motorcycle is not a smart choice for those who not have experience and maybe not a good idea when travelling to Halong Bay. There is one more thing is the cruises in Halong Bay depart in the schedule so if you are late you cannot catch the cruise and that is not easy to book the cruise on arrival because most of the cruises are needed to book in advance. 4. Railway Vietnam has an old history of Rail transport and it is a very interesting experience when travelling by train. If you would like to gain a deeper knowledge of the local people’s life in Vietnam, you should choose to travel by train. You could have a great opportunity to see the landscape both side along the way in the bumpy train. How to get the train? Travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay, there is just only one train departing per day from Yen Vien Station, Gia Lam. It takes about 30 minutes from Old Quarter to the train station (about 9 km away). They have two kinds of seat: hard seat and soft seat. The price would be depended on which kind of seat you choose. Normally it is from USD4.5$ for local people and for foreigners would be USD15$/one-way ticket and leaving is about 05:00 am. Otherwise, you could choose the Gia Lam Station and travel with Halong Express. The journeys with the train would be around 05-07 hours long and it’s quite safe. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Train How to book the train ticket? You just need to access an online website for the information and go straight to the Yen Vien station, call the hotline number +84 19001224 or +84243 995 2588 to book a ticket 24/7. What are the disadvantages of the train? Beside of the local atmosphere you could have, travelling by train is not really a popular way compare with others. You have to wake up early in the morning, take a taxi to the station and spend that long to travel to Halong Bay. In addition, after arriving Halong Station, you have to take a taxi to transfer to hotel or harbour. Moreover, the price is higher than others transportation and you also have to spend more time with this. If you just have a one-day trip, the train is not a good idea for you. 5. Airway Nowadays, air transports are quite common with everyone. If you have a good budget and would like to save your time in spite of waiting 3 or 4 hours on the shuttle bus or coach, travelling by aircraft is not a bad idea. You could receive a luxury service and comfortable journey with much beautiful sightseeing from the sky. Helicopter How to get the helicopter? Airbus Helicopter has the EC 155 B1, which can carry maximum 4800kg and 12 seats ( minimum is 06 people). You will take a taxi to Gia Lam Airport (small airfield which owned by the military) and your flight will depart at 09:00 am. It takes about 45 minutes from Hanoi to Halong Bay. The price for one person from Hanoi to Halong bay is USD 440$/way/person, from Halong to Hanoi is USD 390$/way/person and round trip is USD770$/person. What are the disadvantages of the helicopter? As you may know, travelling with aircraft is not for some people who have heart disease, height fear or fear of small spaces (Claustrophobia). The helicopter is quite small and it is not friendly to the environment and expensive but not always available as well. Seaplane Beside helicopter, you can have the second option for travelling by air: Seaplane. This is not a new transportation in other countries. The seaplane is even more popular and definitely safer than traditional aircraft. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Seaplane Why should you travel by seaplane? In Vietnam, seaplane service is provided by Hai Au Aviation with three Cessna Grand Caravan 208B – EX amphibian aircraft. You could have a professional tourism and personalized service when travelling by the seaplane. From the check-in process, you will have a VIP welcome service from the well-trained team; especially International pilots. Along the journey, you will have a valuable chance to see the magnificent view of limestone and mountain ranges in Halong Bay from the sky within 60 minutes. It should be an unforgettable memory that you've ever had before. Furthermore, you could use 3G, 4G and take some nice pictures of all the breathtaking sceneries you like as well as all the other digital devices are allowed when travelling by seaplane. How to book the seaplane? As mentioned above, you could check the website of Seaplane Vietnam to see further information about Hai Au Aviation or call directly to their company +84 962 069 689 to get suggestions and assistance. Normally, they offer 2 flight per day: one is at 10:00 and 14:00 for winter time. Summertime will be 09:00 and 14:00. The price range is from USD175$ - USD385$ for one-way trip depending on the timing and season. Round trip is around USD350$. The passenger could bring 07 kg hand luggage and need at least 03 pax when travelling by the seaplane. The duration of the trip is 60 minutes and including 15 minutes for you to flying around the Bay and glimpse of the beautiful landscape. To summarize, there are 07 different ways to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay: local coach, shuttle bus, private car/taxi, train, helicopter, and seaplane. Each one has advantages and disadvantages but overall, you should choose the means of transportation depending on your schedule, your size of team, budget, and purpose of travel. You have to decide which transportation would be suitable for you because it will influence a lot for your whole trip and you do not want to ruin anything from the beginning. If you just only have a one-day trip and do not have much time to look around the sightseeing, the shuttle bus would be a perfect choice. On the other hand, if you are a businessperson and you want to work in a private space along the trip, the private car must be your first option. Otherwise, if you are a big youngster group and want to have an interesting experience on road, you could try motorcycle and you can conquer the road together, explore new places, and have nice photos back home to show for your family and your friends. In my opinion, shuttle bus (luxury bus for tourists) would be the perfect choice for the trips to Halong Bay because of the convenience as well as the reasonable price and the service that you will have. Check the different cruises at Halong Bay Cruises , Lan Ha Bay Cruises to choose the best option for your group in Halong Bay.

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Hanoi Street Food

Hanoi Street Food

Hanoi Street Food -Introduction Travelling to Vietnam , apart from plenty of sights such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Hanoi Old Quarter, the bustling streets, as well as the narrow alleyways, Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi is renowned for its street food. Hanoi’s delicacies such as Pho and Banh Mi have become trendy all around the world, whilst Vietnamese coffee is famous for its strong flavour. Unsurprisingly, Hanoi Street Food can make any eaters delighted by its astounding mix of tastes and smells. It is also regarded as one of the healthiest, freshest and most flavorful cuisines in the world.  Interestingly, Vietnam is home to some regional cuisines with different dishes and distinct flavour. Hanoi food has its own story, along with its own legendary dishes, and the city is full of places to eat.  Below is the analysis which shows you the best in Hanoi food, the top street food vendors, together with the popular Hanoi Street Food Tours . Hanoi specialities 1. Pho Eating Pho is one of the best things to do in Hanoi. Most of travellers visiting Hanoi or North Vietnam should try Pho at least once. Pronounced like "fuh", pho is the world-renowned Vietnamese dish, and it comes in two main varieties: the traditional beef variety, called "pho bo", or beef pho and chicken noodle soup, called "pho ga", or chicken pho. Pho is an incredible combination of soft white rice noodles in a fragrant broth with beef/ chicken on top, smothered in green onion. Hanoi’s pho is served with lime juice, a dash of chilly or fish sauce which all can be added to make it tastier. Hanoi is regarded as the birthplace of pho, and you can find Pho everywhere in Hanoi, from the street vendors to the high-end restaurants. 2. Cha Ca If you are looking for a truly unique Hanoi dish, just try “Cha Ca”. Cha Ca is fish seasoned with garlic, ginger, and turmeric in a sizzling pan, served with vermicelli noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, dill, fish sauce, and red chilly slices. The best way to enjoy the dish is mixing all the ingredients together. One small tip to make it more flavorful is adding a spoon of the fried cooking oil and a little bit fermented shrimp paste. The dish is not only delicious but also fun to eat as it is served in a sizzling pan for the diners to cook themselves. Cha Ca is so popular to Hanoian that the speciality is the name of a street in Hanoi which is named after it. 3. Bun Thang  Not as famous as two specialities mentioned above but bun thang is still considered as the most significant noodle soup of Hanoi city. Bun thang includes rice vermicelli noodles, chicken, egg, pork, as well as a broth. Like other noodle soup, the most important thing to make bun thang stunning is the clear hot broth which is made with no less than 20 ingredients, consisting of chicken, dried shrimps, dried shitake mushrooms, squid, shrimp paste, coriander, ginger, beet, spring onion, sugar candy, fish sauce, and vinegar. In the past, this noodle soup is eaten during Tet holiday, on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year to use up all the leftover foods; but nowadays, it can be enjoyed every day. Best places to eat Hanoi Street Food 1. “Pho” Bat Dan  Pho that is regarded as the most popular noodle soup in Vietnam was originated in the 20th century with the influence of French, beef-favourite cuisine. One of the best spots for pho in Hanoi is Pho Gia Truyen (49 Bat Dan) which is understandably famous for its pho bo. Hanoians often form a long queue every morning at the restaurant which has been serving for more than 60 years. A bowl of the delicious pho normally costs you around VND 50,000 – taste it with handfuls of chilli and a good squeeze of lime. 2. "Bun Rieu" in Hang Bac Bun Rieu consists of rice vermicelli noodles, freshwater paddy crab, along with shrimp paste in tomato broth, served with a basket of vegetables and herbs. There are countless street vendors which sell this speciality in Hanoi, but one excellent spot is at 11 Hang Bac Street. Add a bit chillies, lime juice and shrimp paste (if you dare to try) and you will sample one of the most stunning street food in Hanoi. 3. Egg coffee at Giang Café Head to Giang Café @ No. 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street for the best egg coffee in town. Walk through the narrow alleyway to the hidden café to relish a cup of coffee which is the mix of strong black coffee, sweet creamy froth made of egg, condensed milk, as well as other ingredients. Apart from the most famous drink of the café, you may try egg rum, and egg beer which is also totally worth. Some popular Hanoi Street Food Tours 1. Hanoi Street Food – Walking Tour If you want to gain a real insight into Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients of the dishes and historical backgrounds of the popular northern dishes, participate in a Hanoi Street Food – Walking Tour. The tour guide will take you to stroll through the maze of bustling streets to the small restaurants or local street vendors that you may not be able to find by yourself to sample local food. You also have the opportunity to see how the dishes are made as the local chef demonstrates their cooking skill on the street. Pull up a plastic stool and try to eat as locals do. The main characteristic of this tour type is walking to sample local dishes under the guidance of a local or a local expert.  There are few tour options per day, including morning, afternoon or evening tours, or even full-day tours which are designed for those in the food industry or anyone with an enthusiasm for food. The few-hour tours (morning, afternoon or evening walks) are more popular among travellers as they give visitors to Hanoi an authentic taste of a city in a couple of hours.  2. Hanoi Street Food – Vespa/ Scooter Tour Hanoi Street Food – Vespa Tour is also a street food tour but you will be driven on a type of motorbike to taste local food in style. The driver is also the tour guide in the tour. You will be on a Vespa/ Scooter and be taken to sample Hanoian specialities. It promises to be a fun ride as you will have the chance not only to sightsee the city’s highlights but also learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture, together with savouring delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do. What differentiates it from Food on foot tour is the motorbike which can take you to the further part of the city that the walking tour may not be able to do. Some Vespa/ Scooter Tours may include Hanoi’s major attractions outside of Hanoi Old Quarter. 

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Hanoi Nightlife

Hanoi Nightlife

Hanoi nightlife offers a wide range of fascinating things to do and interesting places to go after the sun sets. From wandering around the night market to relishing the local food at street vendors, with sipping draught beer and sightseeing the city’s major landmarks at night, all are worth for your time. Read on to find out what to do in Hanoi at night, best nightlife in Hanoi, along with some Hanoi nightlife tips not only to experience the best of Hanoi's nightlife but also to see why Hanoi is considered to have one of the best nightlife in Vietnam. What to do in Hanoi at night Visiting Hanoi, many travellers will ask the same question "Things to do in Hanoi" or "What to do in Hanoi at night". You may find the answer for your question with some tips for the places to visit and things to do in Hanoi at night as below. Exploring Hanoi Night Market  Hanoi Night Market is one of the worthwhile things to do in Hanoi as it is the good way to touch on the real local life. One of the best attractions in Hanoi is Hanoi Night Market which stretches through some of the busiest streets found in the Old Quarter, comprising Hang Duong, Hang Ngang, and Hang Dao. Hanoi Night Market which is open every night of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from around 7.30pm until late is full of delicious food and local souvenirs, not to mention the exciting live performances.   Another night market needs to be mentioned is Quang Ba Flower Night Market which supplies fresh flowers for Hanoi and nearby provinces. It is open from midnight to the early morning of next day so try to stay awake over this night and stroll around the lively market to enjoy Hanoi nightlife.  Hanoi Night Market Walking around the Hanoi City’s major landmarks  Hanoi City’s highlights bring you a different feeling after dark. Considered to be the best attraction in Hanoi, the storied Hoan Kiem Lake attracts people of all ages coming to enjoy the fresh air and participate in an endless range of activities such as walking, jogging, aerobics, and daydreaming. Especially, the roads around Hoan Kiem Lake are blocked on weekend evenings, to turn them into the walking streets, creating a wonderful festival vibe all around the charming lake. After a short lakeside walk, you can head to Hanoi Opera House which offers the stunning view at night. It also hosts regular shows by Vietnam's National Symphony Orchestra, along with a twice-weekly modern dance show called Lang Toi (My Village). Hanoi Opera House Savouring Hanoi street food Hanoi is very famous for its street food, especially local dishes in the evening. Just try to wander around the bustling streets of Hanoi Old Quarter to sample some local specialities, you will see that is one of the best things to do in Hanoi. You may take a walk by yourself or follow a local expert to experience the real Hanoi Street Food through taste under the guide. It can be said that Hanoi nightlife is one of the best in Vietnam thanks to its street food. Hanoi Street Food is offered by different companies and you may join in different itineraries. You may discover the street food in Hanoi by walking or staying on the back of a motorbike arranged by a local company. You will see that Hanoi is the paradise of food and not many places in the world have the great street food like street food in Hanoi. You may book a Hanoi street food tour easily through. Hanoi Street Food Trying Hanoi Local Beer Conveniently enough, Hanoi Old Quarter is the perfect spot to drink a glass (or two) of o beer. Bia Hoi is the most famous for Hanoi Local Beer and it is popular with the local people. When you walk on the street in Hanoi or around it is not difficult for you to see “ Bia Hoi” in most of Hanoi corners. The most famous place in the Hanoi Old Quarter is Bia Hoi Corner, which is the junction of Luong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien Streets. Pull up a tiny plastic stool, order, and then try a glass of "Bia Hoi" which costs you approximately 25 cents a draft, adding some snacks from the vendor, you will get a unique experience in Hanoi at nightfall. Hanoi Beer corner Having drinks at a bar/ nightclub in Hanoi Another suggestion about Hanoi nightlife is enjoying a couple of drinks at a local bar or nightclub. The city’s vivid bars and lively nightclubs are conveniently located around Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter, where you can enjoy great music, exciting atmosphere, as well as make new friends with fun-loving locals and expats. The interesting things about experiencing the bar or nightclub in Hanoi is you can sit at the bar near the door to drink, chat with friends, along with watching the people walking on the streets.   Night Club in Hanoi Old Quarter Best nightlife in Hanoi  Bia Hoi Junction  A “must-come” for any first timer to Hanoi, Bia Hoi Junction is widely-regarded as the best nightlife spot not just only in Hanoi, but also in Vietnam. This bustling beer corner is open throughout the day and until late at night, giving you the view of hundreds of people sitting on tiny plastic stools with a glass of Bia Hoi in hands. If you do not like to sit on the pavement, you may choose a bar which sells soft drinks and imported beers such as Tiger, Corona. In addition to that, many stalls selling a wide range of snacks such as steamed peanuts, skewered meats, fried tofu and beef jerky are available on the street. Ta Hien Beer Corner Water Puppet Theatre The Water Puppet Show is the “must-see” show which gains its reputation all over the world, so it is a rare treat to watch the performance in the place where it is originated from at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. This world-famous theatre is one of the best attractions in Hanoi with tickets are usually sold out in advance so it is highly advised to purchase the tickets as soon as you reach the town. Watching the unique show which is performed on the water stage will surely be the memorable experience in Hanoi.  Water Puppet Show is one of the best Hanoi nightlife clients want to see while visiting Hanoi. Water Puppet Show in Hanoi Binh Minh’s Jazz Club Another Hanoi nightlife spot which needs to be mentioned is Binh Minh’s Jazz Club which is the place to see live music shows performed by several of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Features minimal decoration, warm lighting, cosy seats, and excellent service, Binh Minh’s Jazz Club is great for escaping from the busy cityscape as it also offers a welcoming yet intimate ambiance. Though the drinks cost higher in comparison with most bars in Hanoi, it is totally worth due to the live jazz that takes place from 21:00 to 23:30 every night. Binh Minh Jazz Club Hanoi Press Club Hanoi nightlife offers fun things to do with different service levels, from beer corner for low-budget travellers to upscale bars/ pubs for those who do not mind paying more. Hanoi Press Club is a great example of this bar type. Offers a sophisticated ambiance and outstanding service, a well-stocked bar with stunning wines and cocktails, together with some delicious bar snacks, Hanoi Press Club is perfect for people looking for a relaxing time. Live music performance is available from Thursday to Sunday, not to mention a special buy-one-get-one-free on selected drinks choices every Thursday.  Hanoi Press Club Hanoi nightlife tips  After getting to know what to do and where to go in the place with one of the best nightlife in Vietnam, below are some Hanoi nightlife tips which are very useful to make your trip in Hanoi Capital City fulfilled and perfect.  If you visit Hanoi Night Market or Hanoi Walking Street on the weekend evenings, why do not you try some Hanoi Street Food to get energy for a night full of fun and exploration? Surely, Hanoi offers street food with the diversity, but not about the hygiene. It is better to participate in a guided walking street food tour with a local expert as your tour guide knows very well where to eat good and clean food. Some crowded places such as Hanoi Night Market or Bia Hoi corner may sometimes happen pickpockets so be mindful of your personal belongings. It is highly advised to leave your passports and your valuable jewellery at your hotel’s safe.  Though it is safe to stroll around the bustling streets of Hanoi Old Quarter at night, it is the best to avoid the dark alleyways after 10 pm. Should you like to purchase some souvenirs or handicrafts at Hanoi Night Market, it is recommended to bargain as the sellers may quote you a higher price.

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Sapa Tours From Hanoi

Sapa Tours From Hanoi

Sapa Tours from Hanoi is the best way for you who want to visit Sapa. Sapa Tours are the best tours when you visit North Vietnam. If you love adventurous travelling by hiking or trekking, Sapa Tours from Hanoi would be one of the best options for you. Joining Sapa Tours is the great way to know more enjoy the landscape and learn more about local life there. Travel to Sapa and you will see that is amazing to do it. Located at 350 km far north-west from Hanoi City Center, Sapa is the Capital of Lao Cai Province, where you could witness the most breathtakingly beautiful mountainous town in the north of Vietnam. Joining a tour in Sapa, you will have a valuable chance to communicate with the ethnic minorities here and gain a deeper understanding of their local life.How to get to Sapa from Hanoi?There are some ways for you to get to Sapa from Hanoi and it can be by bus, car or train. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of going by this kind of vehicles? You may find the answer for your question as below depending on your request, budget and interest.Bus to SapaTo join in any of Sapa Tours from Hanoi there are some different ways. As you may know, the bus is a common transportation that people choose to move from place to place with the best cost. From Hanoi City Center, you also could catch a bus to Sapa and it can be a day bus or a night bus depending on your schedule. It takes about 06 hours from Hanoi to Sapa (including the short break in a middle way). Normally, the price depends on the size, types or standard of the buses, Limousine or just normal bus, sleeper bus or soft seat bus.You could travel by a night bus to Sapa with Inter Bus Lines at 22:30 pm and arrive at 03:50 am next day, the pick-up point is at 110A Tran Nhat Duat Street. You also could go with Hung Thanh bus at 19:00 pm or 20:00 pm and the pick-up point is at Gia Lam Station (it takes about 30 minutes away from The Old Quarter). Almost the buses will depart at 07:00 in the morning with the pick-up point in the Old Quarter and arrive Sapa at 13:00. You could also request the bus to pick you up at your hotel; however, the pick-up time will be earlier at around 06:15 – 06:30 then the buses will go to the meeting point for departing.Bus to SapaTrain to SapaThe second choice for you to get to Sapa is an overnight train to Sapa from Hanoi. Some people want to have an interesting experience with the train in Vietnam to enjoy the beautiful sceneries both side of the train while travelling. Furthermore, some people also believe an overnight train to Sapa is more comfortable and safer than travelling by bus or car.Schedule and price for overnight train to for your and of Sapa Tours from Hanoi: There are 4 main sleeper train schedules leaving from Hanoi Center at Tran Quy Cap Station gate (the western entrance of Hanoi Railway Station): SP1 at 21:10 arrive at 05:25, SP3 at 21:50 arrive at 06:15, SP5 at 19:40 arrive at 04:20 and SP7 at 20:35 arrive at 04:55. You will spend 8 hours and a half on a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai Station then transfer about almost an hour from Lao Cai station to Sapa Town by private car or bus.  Along the way, there are many beautiful sceneries of mountain ranges for you to take some photos as well. With those schedules, you may use some good operators with more private cabins (2 berths or 4 berths) include Livitrans, Sapaly, Fansipan, King Express, Chapa Express, Orient Express or Victoria Express with the higher price. For standard cabin is from USD30$ - USD40$/way ticket and for the luxury cabin is from USD80$- USD150$.Comparing to the other train in Vietnam the train to Sapa has different choices from the standard train to luxury train for you to choose. Enjoy your Sapa trip by experiencing a train.Night train to SapaPrivate car/van to SapaIf you travel with a group, family or even you just want to have your own private area, Doing a Sapa Tour with a private car/van would be the third option for you to get to Sapa. You will have more space to put your luggage along with you or chitchat with your companions. Especially if you are a businessman, the private car for your Sapa Trip is a good choice to get to Sapa if you want to work on the way if you have to.You could book the private car with your travel consultant. The driver just can understand simple sentences enough to communicate with you. The price depending on how long you will stay in Sapa and how much you do the trip in Sapa but we advise to use the package tour with a tour guide for more convenience. Normally the price includes the parking fee, petrol, tolls fee. The duration of the private car would be around 5.5 hours and it is almost the same as the bus. You could leave at 07:30 am or 08:00 am from Hanoi for a good tour schedule but that depends on your schedule. So how to get to Sapa depends on your budget, needs and your interests of experience.Private car/van to SapaSapa Tours from Hanoi ItinerarySapa Tours by bus/ Luxury Van/ Private carFor your convenient duration, you could consider Sapa Tour 2 days 1 night by bus or Sapa Tour 3 days 2 nights as well. It doesn’t matter if you travel by bus or private car, you should be ready in the morning to start Sapa trips. If you travel by bus to Sapa, you could request a pick-up at your hotel and they will come to pick you up at around 06.15 am – 06.45 am depending on each bus and their schedule as well. If you travel to Sapa by private car, the tour guide and driver will come at around  07:30 am to pick you up for the transfer from Hanoi to stunning Sapa. Otherwise, you could just go with driver and you will meet your tour guide in Sapa upon your arrival. Duration to get to Sapa by private car/van takes approximately 5-6 hours on the highway. You will have a short break in a middle way. Popular Sapa Tours:Sapa Tours 2 days 1 night:Sapa Tours 2 days 1 night is an option for many clients visiting Sapa by or by train. The first day will be easier, after arriving Sapa Town, you will check in at your hotel then visit Cat Cat Village- one of the age-old villages of H’Mong ethnic minority with their specific customs and daily activities. It is a good time for you to take some photos here, talk to the local and have a remarkable experience.  After finishing Cat Cat village exploration, you will come back to your hotel, take a rest and spend your free time in the evening to discover the town of Sapa. There are several restaurants with the special dishes such as Clamped-under-the-armpit pig, Meo Cabbages, Salmon in Sap. Nevertheless, barbecued stick meat, fish, and veggies on the street are the attraction to travellers who visit Sapa. The more time you spend on discovering about the place, the more special things you see. The second day of Sapa Tours you may spend your time on trekking to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages where Black H’Mong and Zay hill tribes live. You could have a chance to trek along local paths and enjoy the wonderful view of the terraced rice paddy fields on the way. Lao Chai and Ta Van Villages are located in Muong Hoa Valley – one of the most spectacular villages where offered you the gorgeous panorama views facing by the river and backed by the mountain. Here you will absolutely relax and commune with nature by feeling the fresh air, see their tribal life, interact with ethnic minorities. In the afternoon around 15:00, you will get back to your bus private car to go back to Hanoi. You finish the Sapa Tours 2 days 1 night.Terrace rice paddy field in SapaSapa Tour 3 days 2 nights:In case you choose Sapa Tour 3 days trip, you can stay overnight in Sapa hotel or homestay then you will have one more day in Sapa for visiting Ma Tra Village, Silver Waterfall or Fansipan Peak with the cable car to admire the most breathtaking of “The Roof of Indochina”. Sapa Tours days trip will bring you the best experience for learning about the local life on the mountainous area.Sapa tours by trainAs mentioned before, if you would like to have a unique experience of transportation while enjoying a Sapa tour in Vietnam, travelling by train is a good option for your trip to Sapa. Different from a bus/private car, the night train will depart at around 21:30 so you have to move from your hotel to the Hanoi Railway Station at 20.30 for check-in. Travelling by train to Sapa will give you the bumpy feeling but it is safer and you will have experience on the local train in Vietnam. You will arrive at Lao Cao Station at around 05:00, our tour guide will pick you up, and transfer to Sapa Town by private car (estimated 35 km). Along the way, there are many beautiful sceneries of mountain ranges for you to take some photos. It is very flexible with the itinerary for Sapa, similar to bus or private car, you could do the Sapa Tour 2 days 1 night or Sapa Tour 3 days 2 nights. You may trek to Cat Cat, Lao Chai- Ta Van Villages or Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw Mountain) or Ma Tra Villages – a rural village that less touristic like the others. There are nearly 50 homes living here and most of them are the H’ Mong tribe minority people. Your tour guide may take you to see the small primary school meet little children here and you will have time discovering the village and have an overall view of the tribal culture and custom. They earn their living by using their craft such as carving silver; weaving brocade, silk and some of them make decorated cloth to sell on the main street in the centre of Sapa.  You will have an opportunity to learn about their living by growing rice and corns on terraced fields, make traditional handicrafts or cotton cultivation and unique fabrics. Sapa tours by train is a popular choice for many clients from long time ago because in the past it was the best way or doing a Sapa Tour from Hanoi.Love Market in SapaSapa Accommodation for Sapa tripHotels in SapaOne important part of your Sapa trip must be accommodation. There are a hundred hotels in Sapa, hostels, resorts, and homestays from standard to luxury service. You could find good hotels, Sapa Dragon, U Sapa, Sapa Legend Hotel & Spa to the Luxury resort include Sapa Highland Resort, Topas Ecolodge, Jade Hill Resort & Spa, Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa, Spa Victoria Sapa, etc. Each hotel in Sapa has air-conditioning, hot water, and all the services as same as a hotel in the city with the splendid view to the mountain of Sapa would be a great choice for you to relax after your long day trip.Hotel in SapaSapa HomestayBesides hotels, another option for those who do not want to avoid the noise from the street and want to stay in the village with local people is the homestay in Sapa. Nowadays, many travellers when visiting Sapa stay in Sapa homestay. Homestay could be in Ta Phin Village, Ta Van Village or Lao Chai Village depends on the itinerary. With the homestay in Sapa, you will have a valuable opportunity to know more about the local’s daily life, listen their sharing about how they could earn their living in and learn more about the cultural diversity of the village local and other hills tribes living nearby while helping them to prepare and enjoy the dinner with. Staying in Sapa homestay would be an unforgettable memory because you will feel their warmest hospitality and friendliness from the host and atmosphere like your family. This definitely different from the hustle of city life or in Western countries. Enjoy your Sapa trip with the Sapa homestay.Sapa Homestay

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