Traveling to Hanoi
 

I'm off again to SIN and considering where to spend three days. The past few times I've done Phuket, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. I had thought about Hong Kong, but the preferred hotel is sold out of awards. I wanted to go somewhere new and thought Hanoi would be an interesting choice (I have a coworker who is Vietnamese born and thought that a gift back would be a great surprise). Is three days enough? How are traveling conditions over there? I'd likely be staying at the Hilton Hanoi.

Yes, three days will allow you to see much of Hanoi. It's a interesting city. I was at the Hilton there last month and it is a fine hotel in which to base yourself.

I love Hanoi. You don't say when you intend to go, but the next few weeks are the best time in my opinion - before it gets hot.

Its sufficiently small that you can explore on foot - its very much on a human scale. There is a single cluster of sites (the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh's stilted house) a bit further out which require a short taxi journey - though you can walk it if you like.

The Hilton is indeed a fine modern hotel and the location is good. The Metropole is probably the most famous "posh" hotel and has all the history, also with a good location. I would avoid the Daewoo (where Clinton stayed during his famous trip). Its somewhat out of the centre. I've always stayed in cheap "mini-hotels". Many of these are small family run places, but service can be unpredictable. A great "mid-range" hotel is this one http://www.desyloia.com/. Its a cut above the "mini-hotels" (which are typically $20 to $50). Even if you don't stay there, its worth remembering the address, it has a great restaurant "Cay Cau".

If the 3 days you mention includes arrival and departure then Hanoi is enough. If you have 3 clear days in Hanoi, you could consider a trip out to Ha Long bay. This can be arranged when you get there - perhaps taking into account the weather.

I'm envious. I abandonned a plan to go to Hanoi about a month ago. A friend's getting married there in a couple of weeks, and it looks like I can't make that either.

I should have mentioned that I'm going at the end of March (27-30 or 31). I might be cashing in UA MP Miles for tix on SQ. I'm staying at the Hilton on my HHonors points as it appears to be a pretty good deal for them.

I did some looking through the Lonely Plant Thorn Tree tonight before deciding that I want to do this. It sounds like Hanoi would definitely be an interesting place to visit since I don't really just want to sit on a beach this time.

Any suggestions on the best guide book? I usually buy Lonely Planet because they all have walking tours. I prefer to spend my time walking neighborhoods than sitting in museums.

Hilton Hanoi is actually one of the very few Hiltons that was downgraded during the last round of category change. At Category 2 now, its certainly a good deal. While service is top notch, do be aware that the rooms decor may not be to everyones taste and I actually found it quite painful on my eyes.

Hanoi is an interesting city. Do not miss the water puppet show at the theatre opposite the lake which is within walking distance from the Hilton

We're going to Hanoi in October, so I'll be interested in details on your trip when you return.

A great series for walking tours, much better than Lonely Planet IMHO, are the Insight Pocket Guides. I bought Hanoi & Northern Vietnam (ISBN 981-258-045-X), which has nine city walking tours, three in the central city and six further out. Also has six suggested excursions, including Ha Long Bay. I agree with a previous poster that you should try to get there. We've not been yet, but a neighbor has and describes it as magical (as do most reviews). Book also has information on shopping, eating, night life, etc. and the walking tour maps are much better than LP.

Hanoi guide is $13.95 and includes a pull-out map of the city.

The weather will still be cool enough then. Lonely Planet do a small guide which is just on Hanoi and is pretty good. I haven't seen the Insight Pocket guide... I can believe it might be better than the Vietnam LP guide, but not sure how it compares with the LP Hanoi only book.

Hanoi is a great place to walk, just take care crossing the roads. I do suggest you go to Trang Tien street (runs between the south side of Hoan Kiem lake and the Opera House). There are some bookshops there and you can pick up a really good map for VND3000 to VND5000. (US$0.20 to US$0.30!). Street vendors also sell them, but not so much choice. The old quarter is very dense and only the best maps (none of the LP maps I've seen) show the names of every little street complete with the correct "tone" marks.

I agree museums aren't always the most exciting of places, but I do find them fascinating in Vietnam. You can find some real kitsch stuff there as well as a bizarre take on history. I remember seeing a "heroic" portrayal of the way the telephone network had been upgraded during the 1990s including a poster portraying stern looking gentlemen climbing telegraph poles. There was a glass case labelled "Sophisticated Vietnamese Telephone" with a pretty standard looking Motorola mobile phone inside... Personally I'd have the pagodas/temples bottom of my list.

I agree with mario33 about the waterpuppets - they're pretty impressive, though the programme hasn't changed much since 1991 when I first saw them. They often give you something on arrival - eg a cassette tape of the music, a fan or some other souvenir. Some tourists reject them not realising that they are free.

There is some more "modern" stuff too.. if you're young/young-at-heart/don't mind being around young people, then you could drop by New Century Club at 10 Trang Thi late (>10pm) one night. Loud music, lasers, great looking outfits from young Hanoians who know how to enjoy themselves. Even if you're shy to go inside you can hear/see the buzz as you go by. Maybe check with a "young" person at your hotel that its still trendy and if it isn't where else to go if you're into that. Then if you are really into the culture and can round up some volunteers you could have a karaoke night... During the day you can see some fashionable types in the Ciao Cafe at the beginning of Hang Bai (as it runs away from the lake). But I prefer to have coffee at the small Highlands cafe on the corner of the lake. This little cafe has been there since French times.

Back to walking. If you're up to it, its really good to start walking before 5am. Wander around the old quarter then - pick up a bowl of pho bo (beef noodle) or pho ga (chicken version). The sights and smells are so different before the backpackers get up. You can see the locals doing their exercise around the lake. Frankly I'm not so keen - I've never got up earlier enough. But I have seen it all because I didn't quite make it to bed the night before.