rjh

Thanks for these. GMaps refs:

• Bun Dau Hang Khay two GMaps listings. This is the one down the alley.
• Cha Ca La Vong read reviews to calibrate expectations for price and service
• Bún Chả Đắc Kim two locations, at least. This is the original, I believe.
• Bánh Gối Lý Quốc Sư
• Pho 10
• Phở Thěn (also mentioned)
• Quan An Ngon

hxhbk

<Phở Thěn Did this move? If so, this is the GMaps location>
Thanks for the correction. I stand corrected.
The place I should have said is Pho 10 (named for the address 10 Ly Quoc Su).
Pho Thin is also another well-known and well-liked pho institution in Hanoi.

Annalisa12

I have done 2 food tours on two different trips to Hanoi. One was $25. I suggest you do this on your first night there and get to know where you can eat like a local safely. We found amazing local places for $2 a meal and felt comfortable visting there on our own.

I am an advocate of tipping but don't think you need to tip the same total as your massage (as in 100%). A little goes a long way in Vietnam.

invisible

I am not. And people who demand/expect tips usually get nothing from me. It is just life philosophy and no need to discuss.

invisible

Seems it is min 2.5h ride one way from Hanoi. That's 5h on road only - too short time lift for a day trip.

I was looking at Ba Vi park. Anyone have been there recently?

rjh

Tam Coc boats are 1h45m away by good road. We did the boats + rode bikes + saw the temple along the way (missable, but you're on tour) for our day trip. Full day, but got back before dark for sure. YMMV.
Haven't been, but caution that it will likely be cold in winter and about the same travel time, if not more, than Tam Coc.

Annalisa12

I am im poor countries.

invisible

Hm, google says that it is almost the same time drive to Ba Vi than to Tam Coc. Wonder why, considering that first is much closer if looking at the map.

How much your trip cost and what was logistics? Wikivoyage page says that it is 120K per boat and the same per person for a boat trip. No info about bikes.

BTW, how did you avoid the nasty pushing you buy something? At TA there are bunch of stories saying that not only boat rowers push you to buys something but ask for tips as well.

P.S. Did some reading more. No, not going there and if going, would go to Trang An instead.

IAN-UK

I echo this, but i can sympathise with invisible's position. I try to divert tips from the greedy and calculating.

Halong Bay is an odd one. It's surprisingly, quite unexpectedly, beautiful - though I have no doubt that there are scams galore among those organising tours to the place. Though I think it's perhaps unwise, and a tad elitist, to disparage tourism spots simply because they are popular/crowded - simply try to pick a time when they are less crowded.

As for walks, I always enjoy a short one taking in the Tran Quoc pagoda, then continuing on to west Lake (bus/Grab back), or completing the circle around Truc Bach. I guess it wouldn't be too much of a strain, once reaching West Lake, to continue round the lake. But i'm lazy.

rjh

Maybe it's just me, but I rarely have this problem, here or anywhere. Usually a hand "wave off" is all that's needed. (Not addressing the rest of you post since you said you aren't going.)

Annalisa12

I never have a problem either. Just one or two firm but polite nos and they move on to their next target.

Annalisa12

Actually, I do recall a boat rower was insistent about getting a larger tip when we had gone to a temple. I can't remember which one. My guide had advised me to get out of the boat before tipping. The lady boat rower got all nasty and said I needed to give her more. I just said... that's more than enough and turned to walk away. I'd given 30 or 40% tip as she had taken 45 minutes to get us there and 45 to get us home. I guess this is why the guide advised to get out of the boat so if they were going to get nasty I could just walk away.

If you are going to tip NOTHING. I suggest you be prepared in some instances.

IAN-UK

I'd hate to see this dissolve into thread about tipping cultures. But it's pertinent to point out that the expectation of tips, and in particular the expectation of silly levels of tipping, can only be born and encouraged from the profligacy of earlier visitors.

The poorer cousins of those reckless tippers are vulnerable to pressure from vendors, cave in, and so the cycle continues.

If only we could convince visitors that handing $5 to a taxi driver in a society where passengers normally round up fares to a convenient number, is a pernicious form of corruption. Better to distribute largesse through a charity operating in the country: that might even be tax deductible

rjh

No one addressed this, I don't think. I'd suggest the plaza in front of St Joseph's, though I'd probably stay out of the cold and inside Eden coffee, on one of the upper floors, adjacent.