Overview
I spent a little over a week solo in Vietnam in 2023. There is a lot to do in Vietnam and a lot of different regions to explore - a week is not enough time to do it all, so I prioritized Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An, at the recommendation of a friend that used to live in HCMC. One of the more famous things to do is the Ha Giang Loop, which I would love to be able to go back and do some day (I think it takes 4-5 days). Below are recommendations amalgamated from me, my friend Stephen (linked a bunch of his maps and Instagram videos of special spots) and a few other friends that had also done Vietnam trips. Typically, I’m about a 5/10 on the luxury needs scale (I like a good meal occasionally but typically won’t seek out something very fancy, I don’t mind being dirty and wet for a few days but I also love some good clean sheets) and I’m probably 8/10 on the adventuresome scale (I know my limits, but I like pushing them).
This trip was overall quite luxurious and relaxing - I walked around the cities exploring, ate tons of food, and saw some sights. Prose summary of my experience here.
Hanoi:
Lodging
- The fanciest place to stay in Hanoi is The Metropole. It is a gorgeous French colonial style building, excellent service, excellent restaurants, but expensive. If you’re looking to really splurge I’d highly recommend it. Graham Greene wrote “The Quiet American” while living here, so you might as well read that by the pool, too.
- If you do stay here, make sure to sign up for the bunker tour that is available to hotel guests. They discovered a war-era bunker a number of years ago and had it excavated and available for tours.
- Stephen recommended the Maison d’Orient Hotel from his last stay - ask for a room with a balcony
- If you’re looking for a hostel, I heard good things about Flipside Hostel - wifi, a/c, good showers, free breakfast, free beer on rooftop at night, great local staff, $6/night
Sights and Activities
- Download “Grab” to get around the city - motorbike taxis are a fun way to do it
- Hỏa Lò Prison (also known as the Hanoi Hilton)- prison where the French held Vietnamese during the early 1990s and then where American POWs were kept during Vietnam war, including John McCain. Definitely worth a visit.
- Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum - not “fun” per se but an experience in communism
- B-52 wreckage in lake - this is just something to walk and see, but I thought it was fascinating
- Inner City Train - you sit and have a coffee and watch the train pass inches from your face. It’s an experience. Train schedule is not clear so I went to the street and when a train was coming the people hurried me to sit down while it came. I didn’t wait long but honestly I have no idea how often they come.
- Opera House - I didn’t do a tour, but it’s a beautiful stop on a walk
- I had been told to skip the water puppets. I also didn’t visit the Hanoi Military Museum, Van Mieu Mon, or the Temple of Literature. Sounds like all are decent if you like museums.
Food
- Best thing I did was a food tour with “Buffalo Joe” (a local guy who was born on the back of a water buffalo, hence the name). It’s a half-day food tour and you really hit all of the spots - he’s excellent, knows a ton of history, and takes you to all of the best versions of the foods you want to try. I had the best bun cha I’ve ever had (probably my favorite dish I had in my 3 months of traveling). His whatsapp is +84 96 725 85 86. Don’t miss it!!