Top things to do when visiting Hanoi and North Vietnam
Adding to my eventful year 2012 was a hometown visit after being away from home since about one and a half year. At first I actually did not intend to go home this year, but perhaps with a bit of luck, one conference in which I presented a paper was organised in Taipei. Therefore, I combined a one-week conference trip to Taipei with a two-week home visit. It was also the first time Dustin came along to Asia and to my hometown Hanoi in particular. So it was kind of special. In addition, it was also a right time to attend the wedding of my close girlfriend, which I was as well looking forward to. Overall, I was very happy to visit my family at home, although I must say this trip, together with the other events from the middle to the end of the year, has placed much pressure on my work before we could really have some kind of holiday.
For this entry, I would make a list of suggestions considering myself as a local tour guide about where and what a tourist could do when he/she likes to visit Vietnam. Talking about top things one should do when visiting the North of Vietnam, I would start with what has pleased Dustin the most in our trip, so it is a recommendation looking from a foreigner's perspective. As a result, the activities I will mention will not follow our actual travelling route (as we have visited first the capital Hanoi), but rather from the most enjoyable experience to a less pleasant one.
- Three-day-two-night Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba island
World-Heritage-site Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
It was really enjoyable to visit the World Heritage site Ha Long Bay. We have booked a all-included-tour with an agency whose office is located at Hang Bo street in the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Before we could book the best price for our three-day-two-night Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba island trip, we have looked and asked around at several travelling agencies. It is a recommendation to ask around, especially for a tourist. The prices could fluctuate quite significantly, the normal price would be US$195 p.p. for overnights in normal basic hotels. We could make a blast price of less than half of the normal price with two overnights in a four-star resort at the Cat Ba island. As mentioned, all was included, from a pick-up-car-drive for about three hours from Hanoi to the Ha Long Bay habour, a ship/boat drive through the Ha Long Bay, a short kayaking on the way, a visit to a cave, a transfer to the resort in the Cat Ba island, then a visit to the Cat Ba National Park to the boat drive back through the Ha Long Bay and a car drive back to Hanoi, plus all meals. ^_^
Visiting Thien Cung cave at the Ha Long Bay - the colours are artificial from lights
Dawn at Cat Ba Island looking from the resort's room
Here are some more photos:
