Vietnam is a country that takes many different forms. The limestone rocks of Ha Long Bay are the perfect backdrop to a relaxing cruise getaway. The party atmosphere of Hanoi is a great environment to meet travelers from all around the world. The historic lands of Ho Chi Minh City are a must-see for every American to understand the “other side” of the Vietnam war. Keep reading for my travel itinerary, loose notes, and favorite recommendations.
Travel dates: Saturday, May 10 – Tuesday, May 14
General Tips
- Grab – Very similar to Uber, my preferred method of transportation throughout Asia, cheaper and more convenient than taxis, you have the option to pay the driver in cash or use a credit card
- SIM card – recommend getting a SIM card in the airport if you will be in the country for a week or more, 1 GB for 1 month is $7, very simple and easy
- Research customer pictures – Always look at customer pictures in the reviews for hotels to get a realistic view of the accommodations
- Hostels in Vietnam – Hostels are slightly sketchy in Vietnam, I recommend choosing hotels because they are super cheap (~$15/night for a 3-star hotel with breakfast), Old Quarter is a good location to look for a hotel
- Credit Cards – credit cards are widely accepted throughout Vietnam but carry a small amount of cash for street food/souvenirs
- Rain Gear – With the tropical climate comes lots of spontaneous rain showers; bring an umbrella and rain poncho
- Bargain – bargaining is embedded into the Vietnamese culture, we bargained an all-day city tour from $25 to $18
- Vietnamese Massage – In my opinion, Vietnam is the best place to get a massage in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has great spas, I used this guide for spa recommendations
Day 1 – Ho Chi Minh City
Sightseeing – Ho Chi Minh City
- Eon Cafe at Bitexco Financial Tower: enjoy a quick bite to take in the best views the city has to offer
Review: green – nice view of the city, it feels nice to enjoy the air condition after spending a while outside, if you’re on a budget get ice cream or tea just to enjoy the view - Nguyen St: Vietnam’s equivalent to Times Square in New York, has a pretty water fountain
Review: green – central part of the city that is good for taking pictures - Opera House: nice architecture
Review: yellow – take a picture and wander around the surrounding streets for local souvenirs
Foods to Try
- Pho: beef or chicken noodles soup, best to try at any clean Pho restaurant on the street
- Hu Tieu: noodle soup with a more southern flavor
- Noodles: order from a convenience store for very cheap
- Circle K: ordered Combo B, noodles with iced tea
Review: green – $1, what locals eat, good sweet tea
- Circle K: ordered Combo B, noodles with iced tea
Exploring Ho Chi Minh – City Tour
- City tour: many options available to book at tour stands around the city, $18 per person, took a bus to each site so not much walking in the hot sun, small group of 4 people total, lasted around 3 hours
- Independence Palace
Review: green – history of North and South during the war, cool to see a bunker, everything in the palace was real, unfortunately, there was no air conditioning - Notre Dame
Review: yellow – cool for a picture, can’t go inside - Post Office
Review: green – cool for a picture - War Museum
Review: green – more gruesome than I anticipated, start at the top and go down, get a map for the self-guided tour because no guides allowed, from the perspective of the winner’s side - Ben Thanh Market
Review: green – big central market, good for souvenirs, recommend bargaining for prices
- Independence Palace
Day 2 – Halong Bay
Ha Long Bay Cruises (booking.com link)
- Ha Long Bay Cruise: 2-daycruise to Halong Bay includes transfers from Hanoi
Review – green: by far my favorite experience in South East Asia, a must-do, many activities, and adventures, structured but still have free time- Rosa Cruise – great option for budget/mid-range travelers, small group of 15 diverse travelers on the boat, many tour companies that offer experiences so best to do your research
Cruise Schedule – Day 1
- Hotel Pickup – (8:00 am) 3.5 hr bus ride w/ 30 min stop at rest stop, tight-packed, minimal legroom
- Arrive at Boat – (12:00 pm) over 500 boats on the dock, and half are overnight boat cruises
- Lunch – (1:15 pm) – family-style, lots of variety of in food
- Free time – enjoy the amazing views on the top deck of the cruise
- Visit the Pearl Farm – (3:00 pm) learn the process of pearl farming
- Kayaking – (4:15 pm) amazing activity to explore the limestone rocks up close, saw a few Jellyfish from the kayak
- Afternoon snack – (5:20 pm) relax while enjoying the sunset, fresh fruit and tea provided
- Afternoon swim – (5:45 pm) optional, jellyfish were common so be careful
- Dinner – (6:10 pm) family-style, plethora of food options
Day 3 – Halong Bay/ Hanoi
Cruise Schedule – Day 2
- Early morning Tai Chi/Yoga – (6:20 am) nice way to wake up to the sunrise
- Breakfast – (7:00 am) simple breakfast options
- Sung Sot caves – (7:30 am) cool experience, great views of the Bay
- Cooking lesson – (10:00 am) learned how to make traditional Vietnamese spring rolls
- Early Lunch – (10:50 am)
- Bus Ride (12:00 pm) – arrive back to hotel at 4:30pm
Exploring Hanoi – Afternoon
- Tran Quoc Pagoda: traditional Vietnamese architecture, paddle swans available for rent
Review: green – pretty views of the lake at sunset - Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre: 100k-200k VND, daily shows at night, 50 min show, buy tickets in advance outside at kiosk
Review: yellow – traditional Vietnamese music, all songs in Vietnamese, nice experience with air conditioning - Night Market: stroll the surrounding street and explore the city at night
Review: yellow – not an official location, generally most street downtown turn into a market at night
Exploring Hanoi – Late Night
- Old Quarter: very lively pubs and bars, popular touristy area that comes alive at night, Ta Hien street is the most popular street
Review: green – very crowded and exciting at night, starts getting crowded around the streets at 9 pm, clubs start getting crowded later in the night - Recommendations We Missed
- Tom’s Bar: you can play your own music
- Hair of the dog: plays hip hop on some nights
- The Hut: sit by lake and have drinks, spaces limited
- Trang Tien ice-cream – Any place on Tràng Tiền street
Day 4 – Hanoi
Exploring Hanoi – Daytime
- Train Street: cute for pictures along the train tracks, 2 main parts of the tracks, one is closer to old quarter
Review: green – small coffee shops surrounding, the train comes at 6:00 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm, still worth exploring if you don’t see a train - Vietnamese Massage: very cheap massage at SpasHanoi, $10 for 45 min back & shoulders massage, reserve appointment online
Review: green – good for mid-range and budget tourists, the staff was very professional, best massage I’ve had - Bun Cha: legendary rice noodles with bbq pork
Review: green – popular place to eat among locals and tourists, very good traditional meal, $4 for a combo meal
Feel free to leave a comment with other recommendations for traveling in Vietnam!
