Hanoi Day 2: Hoa Lu - Tam Coc Tour

On Day 2, we went to Hao Lu - Tam Coc tour booked with Hanoi Guesthouse at USD39/pax (superior tour). The tour guide is very good and informative! He told us a lot about Vietnamese life and also some tips to have a better trip.

Tips #1: it is normal that Vietnamese will bug you to buy things from them. If you don't have intention to buy, just walk straight and don't look at them. Don't ask the price etc. It's not necessary to be polite to tell them NO. Just walk straight. 

Tips #2: the speed limit for vehicle in Hanoi City is 40km/h. So it won't hurt if there is accident. If you want to cross the road, just cross it but maintain your speed. Don't stop and don't turn your head left and right. You can observe the coming vehicle through corner of your eyes, but stay calm, maintain your speed and cross the road. The vehicle will avoid you naturally.

Hoa Lu is located 100 km south of Hanoi, was the capital city of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between AD 968 and AD 980. Some of the sanctuaries and tombs have survived the countless years and can still be visited today. Apart from the historical aspects, the area is also one of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay.

We departed from Hanoi City about 8am and arrived to Hoa Lu about 10am.  We visited the the two temples of King Dinh and King Le that was built in 10th century.

We then continue our journey to Tam Coc, 10km from Hoa Lu.

Once arrived, we were brought to lunch at a local restaurant. Buffet style lunch.

Fried spring roll again!

Grilled lamb meat to be wrap with spring roll skin. This is so nice.

Variety of soups. Eerr...

Some of the foods available.

After lunch, we walk to nearby pier for our bamboo boat ride.

 The boat was row through Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves). Along the way, you also have chance to see the paddy field if you visit Tam Coc in April or September. The view is so nice and calming despite it is very cold!

Before the trip, friends told me, the local people that row the boat will stop at the middle of the river and requested you to buy something before they continue the journey. And a lot of local photographers taking your pictures and will print and sell to you as well. I was quite worry about this too.

And yep, it's true that there is local people with DSLR taking your pictures, print it out and sell to you at USD1. And also in the middle of the journey, they will stop their boat and sell souvenirs item to you. We were lucky our rower did not sell anything to us, perhaps due to I don't look good because I'm very cold.

Our friends on the other boat bought some souvenirs from the rower, as the price was not too expensive and it's just a token to help the local.

So, don't be too worry and enjoy your boat ride :)

Hanoi Day 1: Dinner @ New Day Restaurant.

After a tiring day of waking up early to catch our flight and tour directly after arriving, we settle our dinner  nearby our guesthouse; just a few shop away. This place is listed as one of the recommended restaurant in the tour guide brochure provided by guesthouse.

The place was quite crowded with people, mainly local. They provide us with menu but we had no idea what to order. Then we saw the locals went to pick their own dish from the kitchen and we asked them what is the recommended foods there. The friendly local whom we shared table with; advise us to go to the kitchen to have a look and pick our own dish just like Malaysian 'economy mix rice' style.

We picked this. Pucuk rebung.

Lemongrass fried chicken. This is sooo delicious! The taste marinated and absorb well in the chicken.

Fish. No idea what fish is this. But this is just so-so.

Caramelized pork meat. Nice.

Fried Spring Roll again.. Hehe.. Nice!

Jasmine lemon tea. This taste a bit weird because the lemon is not the lemon that I know of. Total bill for this is USD16. Yep.. can pay in USD, we counted and its cheaper than paying in VND.

New Day Restaurant

72, Ma May Road, Hanoi

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! :)