POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

HANOIVIETNAM

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POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

About HanoiAs anyone who has fallen for its evocation of Indochinese charm or witnessed recent introductions such as top-end restaurants, designer boutiques, and even Bentleys will know, the Hanoi of today is not short on class. Nevertheless, this grand old dame of the Orient, which celebrated its millennium in 2010, is as thrilling as it is beguiling, its buzzing streets alive with colorful sights, pungent smells, and often deafening sounds. A fascinating blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and French influences, Hanoi is changing quickly but maintains a strong identity. Timeless tableaus of Old Asia are easy to spot, although those looking to buy a period piece will leave disappointed. From grandfathers with wispy beards playing chess to youngsters sipping wine at art openings, Hanoi is a stew of many flavors that emerges tasting singularly Vietnamese.

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

The Basics▪Ideal season: Mar–Apr or Oct–Dec

▪Travel duration: 5 nights 6 days

▪Budget: Pocket friendly ($30-$40/ day)

▪How to reach: Flight: Noi Bai Airport

▪How to commute locally: Rent a Bike ($5/ day)| Taxi ($38/ day)| Grab/ Mai Linh and Hanoi Taxi

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

Best Areas to stayHoan Kiem (Hanoi City Centre): Ideal for people looking for cheap hotels and backpacker hostels (Old Quarter)| People looking for sophisticated five-star hotels (French Quarter)| People looking for a busy nightlife scene| Travellers who like to be in the centre of the action

Ba Dinh District: Ideal for Moderately wealthy travelers| Anyone who wants to go sightseeing as most of the historical monuments can be found nearby.

Tay Ho or Hanoi West Lake: Caters to travelers looking to enjoy a quiet retreat in Hanoi, housing a collection of mid-range hotels, stylish bistros, and lakeside restaurants.

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

Top things to do1) Soak in the beauty of Hoan Kiem Lake specially

in night2) Have a Beer Hoi 3) Take an iconic Train street photo4) Escape to Ha Long Bay 5) Take a boat trip in Trang An at Ninh-Bhin6) Tour the National Museum of Vietnamese History7) Watch a performance at Thang Long Water

Puppet Theatre8) Tour the Vietnamese Women’s Museum9) Go shopping in the Old Quarter10) Go boating at West Lake

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

Must Visit 1) Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 2) One Pillar Pagoda3) The Old Quarter4) Vietnamese Women's Museum5) The Water Puppet Theatre6) Temple of Literature7) Train Street8) Museum of Ethnology9) Saint Joseph's Cathedral10) Hoa_Lo_Prison

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

Food & Drink• Iced coffee (eggless) in the old quarter. Also, coffee with

coconut ice cream. The Vietnamese coffee is for strong coffee admirers.• Banh Mi• Eat fresh fruits, preferably the ones having inedible skin

such as Mangoes, Litchi, Watermelon, etc.• Pho – A Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice

noodles, fresh herbs, and meat. You can also request for the vegetarian version of the same• Fried spring rolls• Saigon Beer

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

Quick Tips• Leave for the airport well in advance as the traffic is really

bad while getting out of the city• While interacting with the local people, use broken

sentences and emphasize important words• Avoid surge prices on Grab in night by opting for Mah Linh,

Taxi CP or Vinaun.• Do a day trips to Halong Bay and Ninh binh (Trang An)• Reach the Mausoleum early at 8 am to avoid queues• To avoid buying costly products at Don Xuan Market go

inner in the market• Drink only bottled water• Be extra careful while crossing the road.

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

RecommendationThe bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter are the ultimate expression of Vietnam’s can–do attitude. Businesses sprawl across the narrow paths, selling everything from flip-flops to locally grown coffee.

Food fanatics will find so much to love here. Don’t be put off by pulling up a child–sized chair at any one of the street side carts which dot the Old Quarter and the edges of the blissful HoaKiem Lake. Vietnamese food is unquestionably among the most delicious in all of Asia. Try banh mi which marries Asian flavours with the fresh bread from the country’s French colonial past.

Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum is an essential stop off for any visitor. There are plenty of other excellent cultural highlights, from the ancient Temple of Literature to the thought provoking and politically charged Hoa Lo Prison, which once housed Vietnamese prisoners during French rule and was nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by the U.S. troops held there during the war.

POCKET TRAVEL GUDE: HANOI VIETNAM

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POCKET GUIDE| HANOI V IETNAM