Take a minivan. They're much Cheaper, only about $3. Tell the driver you want to go to Hang Be Street. That's where all the guest houses are. When you get to Hang Be Where you gonna stay? There are many places, Most arount the streets of hang be and Hang Bac. One woird of advice is to stay awa from Mai Phuong Hotel at 32 Hang be. They will be nice while trying to take you for as much money as they can get. Typical Vietnamese.
by bus If you have arrived by bus from Hue or Laos, then grab a xe om (motorbike taxi) or walk over to Hang Bac or Hang Bet Streets. You have arrived in th heart of Ha Noi's Old Quarter. Along trhese streets are many cheap and ok Hotels. Still, as always it is a good idea to keep one hand on your wallet..
If you need to check your email it is recomended that you use an internet cafe. Some Hotels will cut the connection until you send something and still charge you fo the time you were not connected to the internet. One example of such a place is Mai Phuong Hotel at 32 Hang Be Street, but be careful they will disconnect the line so you end up paying for time disconnected as well as time connected.
Looking for some good eats? There are many fine places to eat around the Old Quarter. You can also try Bia Minh on Dinh Liet Street. The food is good, cheap, and beer is only 17 cents for a large glass.
Don't worry about internet access. You can find internet cafes everywhere in the Old Quarter. There is an ANZ bank located on Le Thai Tho Street. If you walk down Hang Be to Hoan Kiem Lake just walk around the lake. Just keep the Lake on your left.
There are many wonderful Tours that you can take While in Ha Noi. Again, check around with the many tour facilitators. One such place is the Kaiser Cafe located at 33 Hang Be Street. Besides having good food and offering Tour service thia Cafe caters to German tourists. The people here speak German, English, and Vietnamese.
Some of the Places to visit include Halong Bay ( The usual tour is either for two or three days. On the three day tour you will trek around Catba island in Halong Bay.), Sa Pa( a four day tour.), Bac Ha (usually combined with a Sa Pa tour.), Mai Chau (two days.), and the fabulous Perfume Pagoda ( A one day tour.). Don't forget to visit Ho Chi Minh while you are here. He may be deceased, but you can still visit him. There is no entry fee to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (Vao Vieng Ho Chi Minh in Vietnamese.). In fact westerners don't have to wait at the end of the line. The Mausoleum closes at 11:30 am everyday. Ha Noi city tours are also nice and relaxing.
When it's time to leave Ha Noi and head South you can either fly, take a train, or take a bus. If you are going to China or Laos be sure and check with Kaiser Kaffee at 33 Hang Be for your travel arrangements. note: If you take the bus to Laos goes direct to Vientianne on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday only. All other days you have to switch to a local bus in Vinh.
When heading South many people purchase an open bus ticket with Kim Cafe or Sinh Cafe. These tickets are very cheap and take you to
and Saigon
With the open ticket you have the option to stay in any of these plaxes until you are ready to move on.
Typical Hang Be Street.
Typical Ha Noi street scene.
When I got to Ha Noi, after 32 hours on the train from Saigon I found a very beautiful city. Much much more so than Ho Chi Minh City. Ha Noi has a definate european feel, espescially in the Old Quarter of the city around Hoan Kiem Lake. Like inb Saigon the people are friendly. The first thing that I noticed was how the people drive with more common sense. In Saigon it's as if they drive with a reckless abandon.
In Ha Noi most of the foreigners, tourists and residents, are crowded into the Old Quarter, particularly near Hoan Kiem Lake and Hang Be Street. There is a definate rivalry between Ha Noi and Saigon. Similiar to New York-Boston, New York-LA in the States.
Banana anyone?
Relaxing around Ho Hoan Kiem ( Hoan Kiem Lake).
Well I was Planning to only be in Ha Noi for few hours, but typical of Asia I found that I couldn't continue by rail and get to Shanghai when I needed to be there. So I switched plans and decided to book a flight to Guanzhou, China. From there.
When I went to book my flight I discovered that the next fliught was in 2 days. I was stuck in Ha Noi for 2 days! No I didn't bitch or cry about it. This was Asia not Europe or the US. Here you can't always have things the way you want it or When you want it. So I decided to take a day and have some fun. I became a tourist in my ow country for a day. It was actually alot of fun. I started out by walking from my Guesthouse down the street to Hoan Kiem Lake. In the middle of Hoan Kiem is Ngoc Son Islet, a small island witrh a Temple on it. The Temple was nice, quiet, and relaxing.
From there I headed fore the Ho Chi Minh Meseum and Historical area, where I wandered around and just relaxed. I tried to go to see Uncle Ho in his Mauseleum, but alas! I arrived too late! another time I guess.
So I headed back to the Guesthouse fore lunch, a nap, and get ready for my flight in the morning.
Typical Ha Noi street scene
Passin the Cafe near Hoan Kim Lake
Selling flowers on Hang Be
Taking a break from the midday sun
The City is her office
HangBe in the morning
Going to school
Hoan Kiem Lake
Nogc Son Temple
Let's take a break here!
Fishing at Hoan Kiem
You are visitor number
To Ha Noi
Visiting Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake
Mural at Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to the historic hero Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
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Comings and going at Ngoc Son Temple
Another Mural, this time dedicated to Tran Hung Dao.
Another view of the entrance to Ngoc Son.
Ngoc Son Temple
Ethnic Minority Singers at Bao Tang Ho Chi Minh, (Ho Chi Minh Museum)
Bao Tang Ho Chi Minh
Relaxin on Ngoc Son Islet
Keeping an eye on things fer ya.
Bao Tang Ho Chi Minh
Minority singers in Ha Noi.
Playin he little ole heart out fer ya.
Doin the same
Guess who? Yep it's kenny on his way to Shanghai. That's his friend Thuc. No, not his girlfriend, sorry guys.
Our boy Hung in Ha Noi. As always he's looking his best for the camera.
Miss Hanh. She works as a tour guide to Halong Bay and other places in the North.
Such nice pearly whites eh?
His wife Dung looking good as ever.
The incredible Miss Phien
Phien is a Tour Guide in Ha Noi
Here she is just relaxin
Somebody looks tired
