Hanoi Four-Day Citywalk can be enjoyed like this
After playing in Hanoi for four days, taking leisurely strolls and breaks was very relaxing. The attractions are quite concentrated, so even a commando could check off the main sites in one day, but I personally recommend three days for a more comfortable experience.
🏠About the attractions:
1. Top recommendation is Train Street. You need someone to guide you in, probably for safety reasons, and the fee is not more expensive than outside. To see the train, you have to wait for the weekend, and it's more beautiful when the lights are on at dusk.
2. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Security checks are required to enter, and many tour groups come here to check in.
3. The Imperial Citadel. The entrance fee is 30,000, and it's not very big inside, but many young ladies are taking photos. The yellow city walls are very photogenic.
4. Hanoi Opera House. It's beautiful for taking photos when the lighting is good.
5. St. Joseph's Cathedral. Suitable for photo ops and check-ins.
6. The Fine Arts Museum and the History Museum are worth a visit if you have time.
7. The famous coffee building + Hoan Kiem Lake. I sat in the rooftop café for a while, and the view was nice.
🚴About transportation:
1. Walking is highly recommended, as the attractions are not far from each other. Just choose where you want to go and use Google Maps to find the location and route. There are many shops and cafés along the road where you can stop by anytime.
2. Riding a motorbike. Grab is very convenient, and motorbikes are cheaper.
3. The double-decker red bus. It's very convenient to cover all the attractions in one go.
4. Pedicab. It's worth trying, but there's too much exhaust on the roads, so the experience is average.
5. To go from the airport to the city center, take bus 86, which costs 45,000 and takes about an hour, much more expensive by taxi.
🍽️About food and drink:
1. Vietnamese pho is very tasty. There are various ingredients like beef, pork, seafood, etc., and the price does not exceed 50,000, with free refills of noodles.
2. Egg coffee. Very fragrant, sweet, and creamy, and when mixed with coffee, it has a caramelized flavor, although the portion is a bit small, it's definitely worth a try. I went to Giang Coffee, which is said to be the original creator, and everyone had a cup in hand.
3. Coffee street. As long as you're in the city, there's a coffee shop every ten steps. You can try any with a Google Maps rating of 4.5, which is very friendly for coffee lovers. I bought Arabica coffee beans to take home, and they also have Moka pots and other items with great value for money.
4. There are many outdoor gear shops around the coffee building, such as The North Face, Patagonia, Salomon, and Arc'teryx. Remember to haggle for clothes, but it's harder to bargain for shoes. All are made in Vietnam, and you can judge their authenticity for yourself.
5. Street food. Juice costs around 25,000 per cup, and there are various noodles and cakes, all at reasonable prices.
🎢Other supplements:
1. There are many motorcycles in Hanoi city, which I find a bit noisy, so after walking for a while, I like to find a relatively quiet café to sit in.
2. You can withdraw money from ATMs, and UnionPay cards are charged a fee. Many shops accept credit cards, which is convenient.
3. When getting change while shopping, make sure to count carefully, as you might be given less by a few hundred thousand haha.
4. It's cheaper to get a SIM card in the city than at the airport.
Overall, Hanoi is not expensive, and the architecture and streets are picturesque, suitable for a leisurely three to four-day stroll. If you have extra time, you can spend a day or two in Halong Bay, making it about a week in total.