Destination Highlight: Hanoi

QUIP

Hold on to your heart meds, because you will need them crossing the streets of Hanoi in the Old Quarter.  But once you build up your confidence, you will be more than pleased with what you find at the other end of the street!   

GETTING AROUND

Cabs are plentiful but walking is a pretty great way to see this beautiful city and really take in the sites.  Again, you will likely be scared sh*tless trying to cross…but that minor detail aside…definitely try walking…

HIGHLIGHTS

Hoa Lo Prison Museum
1 Hoa Lo St | Phu Khanh village,
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
http://triphanoi.com/attractions/11-hoa-lo-prison-hanoi.html#_=_

In terms of sites–you must stop by the Hoa Lo Prison Museum–more infamously known as the “Hanoi Hilton” where many US POWs were held during the Vietnam War.  The history of the prison predates the Vietnam War–and learning about this history was quite fascinating.   

Hanoi Street Food Tour
74 & 76 Hang Bac Street at Kim tours’s building|
Old Quarter, Hanoi 1000, Vietnam
http://www.hanoistreetfoodtour.com/#_=_
Great food and a great introduction to the food scene in Hanoi. 

Imperial Citadel/Thang Long
This UNESCO World Heritage site is also fascinating and well worth the visit–especially for those who love archeological sites.  The underground bunkers are particularly interesting. 

Hoan Kiem Lake
Any time is a great time to stroll around the lake.  Located near the Old Quarter.

Trang Ting Road
We stumbled by this road, but it is filled with art shops and interesting boutiques.  It is definitely worth a visit. 

Other Information
Ha Long Bay Tours are very popular.  The price can range from $25 to hundreds of dollars.  DO YOUR RESEARCH before signing up for a tour.  Although the less expensive tours generally have poor reputations, it may not be necessary to spend hundreds of dollars either.  We ended up doing  a day trip to Ha Long Bay.  Honestly–that was more than enough for me.  Ha Long Bay was nice.  But the water was less than pristine and the activities were barely enough to keep me occupied.  Our trip included a hotel pick up, transportation to the boat, lunch, and activities at the Bay.  You really have to know yourself and your personal preferences to determine what will work best for you.