Hanoi Day 1: Part 2: Hoan Kiem Lake & Water Puppet

After lunch, we went back to our guesthouse to check in before continue our walk to the area around our guesthouse.

We stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake.

In the cold weather, it is quite a good walk.

A temple in the middle of the lake.

We did not went in though. Entrance fees apply.

Along the walk, we saw this unique building. Coffee shops overlooking the lake. We stop by highlands coffee for supper during our last day in Hanoi.

We actually walk around the lake looking for water puppet theater! And it is actually located in the same row with the coffee shops. And you actually just need to listen carefully for a music played from this theater and you can find it's location.

Nothing really interesting with the puppet show but we just feel that, if we don't see it, then our Hanoi Journey is incomplete   :)

Hanoi Day 1: Cha Cha La Vong

We requested the trishaw man to stop us at Cha Cha La Vong. Actually at Cha Cha Road, you can find a few Cha Cha La Vong shop. The trishaw man stopped us at this one, and the friends say is the correct one as per recommended by another blogs.

The operator was so arrogant. The number of order (portion) have to cover for each pax. We tried to negotiated but failed as the operator did not even want to bother us if we do not decided to take order for each person. So we ordered the portion for 3 person. Portion for 1 person cost VND175k.

This is the portion for 3 pax. Not as much as we thought.

But.. it's so delicious! I'd never tasted something like this and couldn't explain the taste. I just can say that it is quite special and yummy. No wonder the operator can be so arrogant.

However, I had minor diarrhea after this meal. Suspected due to it is too oily. (Nah, I mistook the oil as sauce, so I ate a lot of oil.)

Overall, Cha Cha La Vong is worth to try! *although I personally think they charged differently for local residents and tourist. The price was a quite over price!*

Hanoi Day 1: Part 1: City Tour by Trishaw

As usual, our first vacation of the year will be on March.

This year, we choose Hanoi! One of the UNESCO heritage.

Reason being is the air ticket was so cheap and we'd never been to Vietnam.

We booked our stay and tour with Hanoi Guesthouse. And I would like to say, we'd made the right choice. With only USD26/ room/ night, the room is very comfortable for us. And the staffs are super friendly too.

The only drawback was the inconsistent hot shower.

After having our breakfast in the guesthouse (they actually compliment us with free breakfast upon our arrival although we have not check in yet); we discussed with the tour desk staff about city tour. They recommended us to take a trishaw for a different tour experience.

It cost us VND150k/ hour. The trishaw man will wait for us while we touring the places we told him to stop us.

This is how the car in Hanoi looks like. Very dirty that all of sudden, I think my car is in OK condition.

This is how most of the coffee shops looks like.

Stalls.

Our first stop.. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The trishaw man waited for us while we walk around this area.

He then fetch us to Literature Temple.

It's drizzling the whole journey and the temperature was 14' celcius. 

We used 3 hour for this tour and the trishaw man charged us VND500k; requesting us to add additional VND50k as tips. =.=lll

Overall, it's a new experience of city tour for us - using trishaw. With the traffic condition in Hanoi city, using trishaw for tour was scary at first.  However, we then realise that everyone will tolerate each other to avoid accident. We felt safe and enjoy our ride in the cold environment. Nice start of the trip! :)