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Just got back from an unforgettable trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, and let me tell you—it was AMAZING! Well, except for the fact that I came home with a severe sunburn… sigh. 😅
Now, you might be wondering why I chose Hanoi over Ho Chi Minh City. The answer is simple—I’m not a huge fan of super crowded, fast-paced cities. Whenever I travel, I always look for destinations with stunning natural scenery, and Hanoi seemed like the perfect fit!
A Surprise Travel Buddy!
Originally, this trip was supposed to be a solo adventure, but at the last minute, my best friend decided to tag along! She literally booked her flight just a day before I left. I arrived in the afternoon with AirAsia, while she landed at midnight with Vietnam Airlines. Thankfully, I had already booked and paid for our accommodation a month in advance, so she just had to cover the cost of our room upgrade.
Flight Ticket 🛫
I booked my AirAsia ticket in December 2017 for RM345.90, but with added extras like meals and seat selection, the total came to RM384.90. I always prefer choosing my seat because, let’s be honest, getting stuck in the middle seat next to someone with zero personal space awareness is NOT fun.
Pro tip: If you get hungry easily (like me), pre-book your meal—it’s only RM10, and you get free mineral water! If you buy it on the flight, the meal is RM15, and the water isn’t included. You’re welcome. 😉
Where to Stay In Hanoi?
If you’re visiting Hanoi, stay in the Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem District—it’s central, lively, and has plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options. Here’s where I stayed:
4 nights cost: $44 (without breakfast)
- Compact rooms but super affordable!
- I stayed in a Standard Twin Room (they also have dormitory options for budget travellers).
- Convenient location with great tour services (highly recommend booking your tours here even if you’re not staying at the hotel! The packages they provide are tailored for backpackers and offer fantastic experiences.)
A night cost: $43 (Honeymoon Suite with balcony + breakfast!)
- Wanted a bit of luxury for my final night, so I booked this cozy, boutique hotel.
- Excellent location, friendly staff, and top-notch cleanliness.
- Highly recommended!
Getting Around Hanoi 🚖
From the Airport
Book an airport transfer in advance if possible, but don’t be surprised if they don’t show up. My friend and I both had to take taxis despite having pre-arranged transport. It wasn’t just us, as we spoke to other travellers from different hotels, they experienced the same situation. If that happens to you, no worries—just follow the “TAXI” sign at the arrival hall. The fare to the Old Quarter should be between $13-$18 (anything above that? Walk away!).
Within the City
- Grab & Uber: Super cheap and convenient.
- Grab Motorbikes: If you’re feeling adventurous! Widely available.
- Beca (bicycle rickshaws): The standard price is 150,000 dong per person, but if you’re good at bargaining, you can get it for 100,000 dong.
- Walking: My personal favourite way to explore. Hanoi is totally walkable!
In Hanoi, it’s actually easy to find transportation options. You can even rent a motorbike or bicycle if you prefer. If you want to stay active like me, walking is a great option.
My transportation costs were as follows:
✅ $18 (Airport to Box Hotel)
✅ $13 (Finnegans Hotel to Airport)
✅ $7 (Taxi – we got lost somewhere around the Old Quarter)
✅ $5.49 (Beca from Ho Lo Prison to Al-Noor Mosque).
Tour Services
When visiting Hanoi, it’s a must to take advantage of tour services. You don’t need to book in advance; you can do it once you arrive in Hanoi. There are plenty of tour services available in Hanoi. If you don’t feel like searching, you can simply book a tour at the hotel where you’re staying. The hotel staff can assist you with that. Alternatively, you can visit Box Hotel and book a tour there.
By the way, I initially thought that 6 days and 5 nights would be enough to explore Hanoi. Turns out, it wasn’t. I only had 4 days (excluding the arrival and departure days) to explore. On the second day in Hanoi, I took a tour to Ha Long Bay. The package included lunch and the journey took approximately 4 hours from Hanoi. If you want to save some money, you can skip activities like kayaking or the bamboo boat. Staying overnight (which I don’t really recommend) is an option as well. Actually, for Ha Long Bay, a day tour is sufficient. You can go in the morning and return in the evening.
On the third day, I took a 2-day 1-night Sapa Tour. The activities in Sapa included hiking and trekking. The package provided lunch, dinner, and breakfast, and we stayed overnight in a homestay with locals. I will share more details about this in my next post (Part II).
On the fifth day, I didn’t book a tour. Instead, I explored the city on my own. I googled the tourist attractions in Hanoi and navigated using GPS while walking.
My tour services costs were $45 for the Ha Long Bay Tour (Day Tour) and $50 for the Sapa Tour (2 days 1 night).
If you’re not interested in the Sapa Tour, I highly recommend taking the Tam Coc day tour ($40) and the Ninh Binh day tour ($40). I only skipped those tours due to a lack of time. Otherwise, I would have taken both. Maybe next time when I visit Hanoi again.
Food & Drinks 🍜
Finding food in Hanoi is easy for non-Muslim travelers, but if you’re looking for halal options, check out:
- Zaynab Restaurant (near Al-Noor Mosque)
- Namaste Restaurant (Indian cuisine)
- D’lions Restaurant (Malaysian food)
Pro tip: Bring some food from Malaysia, such as instant noodles like Maggi if you’re worried about food options!
Internet Connection
Vietnam has insanely fast internet! I couldn’t believe it myself. Haha. If you’re travelling with a group of friends, I suggest renting a portable WiFi from Malaysia. However, If you’re solo or in a small group, just buy a Vietnamese SIM card (unlimited data for 10 days!). Then, you can share the internet using the portable hotspot feature on your phone.
What to Pack? 🎒
Hanoi has four seasons, so always check the weather before you go! I visited in February, and the temperature was around 20-21°C—pleasant but still required light layers.
If you’re planning to visit Sapa Mountain, bring proper hiking shoes. Don’t make the mistake I did by wearing the wrong shoes. My feet were in so much pain, and my toenails turned purple. Sapa mountains can be quite challenging. Even those travelers in my hiking group said it was tough. Don’t forget to pack sunblock, slippers, enough clothes, instant noodles, and your travel essentials.
Safety in Hanoi ⚠️
Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before heading to Hanoi because you never know what might happen when you’re in a foreign country. Speaking of safety, in my opinion, as long as you take care of yourself, and know which places to visit and which ones to avoid, you should be fine. Dangers can exist anywhere.
I’ve heard some negative stories about Vietnam, such as taxi scams, but Alhamdulillah (thank God), nothing bad happened to me. The taxi driver even taught me how to use Vietnamese dong, and the souvenir shop owner helped my friend and me with our money and reminded us to be cautious while using it because we were confused with the currency.
One thing you really need to prepare yourself for in Hanoi is having the courage to cross the road. Apparently, there are no strict traffic laws here. Haha. And even if there are, they’re not like those in Malaysia. It’s wild!
Continue to Part II here – Solo Travel 2018: A Quick Travel Guide to Hanoi, Vietnam (Part II).
