Visiting Vietnam: Hankering Hanoi

Having visited Ho Chi Minh (review here) and decided that it was a cityscape filled with cosmopolitan indulgences and art studios, we decided to organize a family outing to the capital city of Vietnam- Hanoi.

It would have been fun to visit some museums and governmental buildings but we did not manage to do so. Here are some places we visited and dined at.

PLACES OF INTEREST

HANOI OLD QUARTER (BA DINH SQUARE)

Address: Hùng Vương, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Ba Dinh is a touristy spot packed with places of interest showcasing some of the capital's finest examples of early twentieth French colonial architecture and historic icons - such as Ho Chi Minh's Masoleum, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda.

squid fishing

HALONG BAY
Address: Thanh pho Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
Website: http://www.halongbay.info

A scenic water body with caves and serene ambience, Halong Bay is a must-visit if you visit Hanoi. It borders north along China, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We boarded the V-Spirit Cruise where we woulf be staying for 2 days 1 night. The cruise took us around Halong Bay itself, offering gorgeous views when we were dining or simply hanging out. 

Food items comprised 10-course meals as well as Vietnamese Spring Rolls where we also learned to make this local specialty. Breakfast was traditional Vietnamese Pho (soup rice noodles with chicken or beef). We had lots of drinks as it was very affordable.

Other activities included evening squid fishing, sunset party, morning sunrise Tai-chi and water sports like kayaking. We also visited Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave) which will be described in detail.

SUNG SOT GROTTO
Address: Cat Hai, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
Website: http://sungsotcave.com

Located right in the centre of UNESCO-declared World Heritage area is Sung Sot Grotto, also known as "Amazing Cave"  or "Surprise Cave". The way in is paved by foliage, trees and stone blocks; the interior is beautiful with stalactites, stalagmites, rocks forming shapes of animals and an array of deeply beautiful lights adding enchantment to the cave.

HOTELS

FLOWER GARDEN HOTEL
Address: 46 Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam 
Tel: +84 123 763 1111
Website: http://flowergardenhotel.com.vn/vi

We had a nice surprise upgrade to the new, 4-star Flower Garden Hotel located at Hanoi area. Around the hotel are rows of shops and diners where one could see locals eating seated on low stools or locals carrying sticks tied with goods on their shoulders to peddle.

Anyway the hotel staff was warm and very personable. The hotel was simple but elegantly furnished, with spacious rooms. The hotel restaurant serves good food as well, such as traditional Vietnamese beef pho. Hotel rates is merely around SGD$130 per night for a double bed executive room.

RESTAURANTS

VUON PHO RESTAURANT
Address: 3B Phan Dinh Phung, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Tel: +84 94 569 78 66
Website: http://vuonphohanoi.vn

A beautiful hut-like restaurant standing on its own, where lower level was open-space dining and upper level consisted of air-conditioned, nicely decorated glassroom dining room. We took the upper level of course. The service crew was polite and friendly.

We started with 2 soups namely Lobster Bisque and Mushroom Tofu Soup, followed by Garden Salad. Then we had Pineapple Fried Rice and Pork Belly cooked with coconut and vegetables. Food was excellent and surprised us immensely.

SHOPPING

The tryst to hunt for huge malls or local bazaars was minimal so we were left to browse rows of shops near our hotel's vicinity.

I managed to get a nice dress when the mannequin donning it kept beckoning me over. A Mango dress, no less! And lots of local produce such as Green Bean Cakes, Lotus Seeds etc.

Overall, Hanoi is a more laid-back area compared with Ho Chi Minh city, allowing tourists to appreciate the culture of Vietnamese better, and visiting some historical spots which are the essence of travel.

Vietnam Vacation - Mui Ne Resort

Photo source: http://luxurysquad.com/anatara-mui-ne-resort-and-spa-in-vietnam/anantara-mui-ne-resort-and-spa-6/


After Ho Chi Minh City, I returned to Vietnam again, this time to a lovely resort named Mui Ne. It is 5 hours drive from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, so be prepared to nap on the journey. Their speed limit is fifty (50) kilometres per hour, so bear with the drivers.

Accomodation was at Anatara Mui Ne Spa Resort - a luxurious, gorgeous beachfront resort for a promising vacation anytime. The villas come with tranquil sea views, serene settings and a lovely private pool. There are many resorts alongside Anatara Mui Ne, and scores of tourists visit for private, secluded holidays away from the hectic-ness of citylife.

FOOD / DRINKING SPOTS

There are rows of seafood, Western, Vietnamese, Italian and other cuisine at the front of the resort, as well as drinking places and pubs.

We dined at the hotel's L'anmien Restaurant or some of the seafood restaurants for tasty fresh catch, traditional Broken Rice, grilled fish with special Vietnamese fish sauce and pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). One is spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drinks. 


TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

As for this, we took a tour half-day private tour package and the friendly guide brought us to the famous tourists' attractions around the tiny, serene escapade island.

First, we visited the Mui Ne Fishing Village (Phan Thiet) - an essential congretation of fishing boats and swaying palm trees where we watched the fishermen in action, casting their nets and reaping in their catch. It was windy and soothing, and we were glad for the opportunity to see the local fishermen at work.

Next, we visited the famous Red Sand Dunes, we had heard that its beauty was unquestionable, and it had replaced the White Sand Dunes as the tourists' top favorite places to visit. Not only did we walked on the coarse red sands, we loved the ripples caused by the wind as well. This was truly a scenic place.

We were brought to see the White Sand Dunes after this, where the sands were softer and we thought that this place looked more beautiful than the Red Sand Dunes earlier on. Moreover, there was a Lotus Lake filled with lovely lotus leaves and flowers on a reflective water oasis. We heard that the color of the sands change at different times of the day.

Finally, the tour ended at Fairy Streams (Suoi Tien) - we were supposed to take a 30 minute walk through the streambank, but I was wearing heels so we skipped that part, and chose to instead gaze at the colorful sands of the canyon - we heard that the walk was amazing as one would get to experience soft sands and warm water beneath their feet. It was known as the most magical spot in Mui Ne, a hidden gem of nature.

On the way back, we stopped by a plantation where they grew peanuts and watermelons, and we watched the hardworking farmers raking away diligently.  This was truly an aspect of cultural infusion I enjoyed, taking in the scenic views and being surrounded by nature.

SPA AND MASSAGES
Yes, if you are into spas and massages, Mui Ne has it all for you - cheap and good massages for you to choose from. 

WATER SPORTS
Not much except Kayaking and Jet-Ski - we tried the latter. The excellent, private beach was rough with high waves, hence it made jet-skiing on it rocky and exciting - a tumultous but thrilling ride with the wind in one's hair and water beneath one's feet.

Come down for a relaxing holiday devoid of stress and worries, and enjoy the magnificence of what nature has to offer. Let the gentleness of the winds soothe you and the warmth of the sun caress you for a change.

Vietnam Vacation - Ho Chi Minh City

Heard that Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was becoming vivacious, so piqued our interest to visit and see for ourselves. Had wondered how this traditional, once too laid-back city has transformed, and to what extent. However, when we stepped off the plane, we saw alot of tall buildings in the distance, and professional-looking executives were all over the place. In fact, it was rather delightful to learn that there were a lot of French Colonial style buildings around the city and also, French restaurants, since they used to be under French control.

I have stayed at the Amara Hotel Saigon and New World Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City before - both recommended, depending on where your preferred location is.  The latter hotel has a casino in it, so those seeking to try their luck at winnings may be duly occupied.

Transport-wise, there are plenty of cabs available. The roads are filled with scooters as these are the main mode of transport for their people there - manual workers as well as office workers in executive wear, alike.

Shopping
For upscale shopping, one may like to check out Thuong Xa Tax (Saigon Tax Trade Center) located at District 1. This is where one could find malls and stores selling clothes, accessories, books and crafts. I did not see anything suitable as I thought the style of the clothes, accessories and crafts were not my kind of style...the designs were stll leaning very heavily on the Vietnamese intricate patterns.

Many tourists and locals love the Ben Thanh Market as well - a large marketplace in central Ho City Minh City (District 1, as well), housed in yet another gorgeous French-styled building, boosting rows of vendors selling foodstuff, souveinirs, textiles and clothes.

Food
One is rather spoilt for choices for food here.

Let's not talk about the pricey ones like Ly Club, Temple Club and Le Jardin etc - there are lists that potential diners could search for, online. Fine dining and French / French-Vietnamese Fusion restaurants are readily available in most areas.

For traditional Vietnamese food, one may like to try the Pho (Vietnamese soup noodles) - two recommended locations would be Pho Hoa and Pho24 - tasty soup noodles, tender beef and healthily infused with an assortment of vegetables such as mint leaves, beansprouts etc.  Vietnam is also famous for its Broken Rice dishes - I did not get to try, but heard its crispy and tasty. Finally, the spring rolls - either deep fried ones containing pork, shrimps and vegetables or fresh ones containing just shrimps and vegetables - are equally tasty and healthy food for thought.

It is not recommended to try their curry though - the sweet curry made me feel funny after eating it - not funny due to sickness, but felt kind of nauseous.

My personal favorite was the Cruise Dinner onboard one of the large vessels and dining on the scenic and romantic Saigon River. Different cruises served different cuisines - we went up on all three and finally settled for the one that served Chinese cuisine (craving of the day) along with the best music. There were live performances during dinner comprising of fire-eating shows and dancing. It was very entertaining.

There are also a number of cafes and bars scattered around - it depends on whether one is seeking for refreshers or more hardcore chilling out. Try Windows Cafe (Park View) at District 1 - a lavish, three-storey modern-esque building devoted entirely to serving its patrons - drinks or food, all welcome.

Cultural Infusion
For those who love cultural and historical pursuits, worry not, Ho Chi Minh has plenty to offer you in this aspects as well.

There is a score of museums around - such as the Vietnam History Museum, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and War Remnants Museum - I've been to all three, but the one that left the deepest impression was the latter. The warplanes actually looked very intimidating and creepy, and I kept having this odd fear that they would suddenly leap to life and come at us. Maybe I was just spooked by the war stories and deaths associated with it thus why.

In lieu of museums, there are also many fine arts galleries along the rows of shops. While some of the art pieces may be replicated or distributed all throughout the city, they were all really rather impressive works of art. I wanted to buy one of the Marilyn Monroe ones, but was afraid it would be too big for both carrying around and for the spot I intended to hang it at.

Tourist  Attractions
Finally we have come to the end - touristy spots in Ho Chi Minh City! There was a half-day city tour that we had embarked on, and brought to a Pagoda, a Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Post Office - all apparently places of interest to tourists, showcasing the different religious beliefs of the Vietnamese.

One may also wish to visit more adventurous spots such as Cu Chi Tunnels - an elaborate and immense network of underground tunnels.

Then the Reunification Palace - showcasing the grand halls and living quarters of the high-ranking government officials - this parliamental place, also the downfall eventually. When we were there, our tour guide informed us that these businesses were now being conducted in Hanoi.

Of course, there is also the Saigon Zoo for the superbored or animal lovers. It was a rather ill-maintained zoo with mediocre living conditions for the adorable animals trapped within. The admission tickets were dirt-cheap though, so who could complain...


Overall, Ho Chi Minh City is a rather vivacious city indeed, and a lovely experience.