The Vietnam travel notes below are tips, recommendations, suggestions, or logistical information regarding specific hotels, restaurants, tours, etc. They certainly aren’t all-inclusive, but maybe they’ll help out potential travelers who are in the planning stage of an upcoming trip.
River Cruise on the Mekong
When we entered Vietnam, we were on a river cruise on the Mekong river. It’s a cruise provided by a company called AmaWaterways. (More on AmaWaterways below). Our boat was the AmaDara. The specific cruise we were on is “Riches of the Mekong.” We started in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and ended in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We loved it. (We continued on to Hanoi on our own).
The staff on board the boat who took such good care of us were also special. Most were either Cambodian or Vietnamese. They work for months at a time without seeing their families, but you’d never know it, because their attention always seems to be focused on you. We had so much fun with them, yet at the same time, they were so professional. I have not forgotten them, and there are a few who I may never forget.
AmaWaterways
We’ve traveled with AmaWaterways before. They do an outstanding job. We were particularly impressed at the excursions on the their Mekong cruise. We went to out-of-the-ordinary places. Take , for example, the school we visited — a thoughtful and meaningful destination we wouldn’t have stumbled on if we were on our own. The guides were locals and were excellent. Here’s their website.
The Hanoi Sheraton
While in Hanoi, we stayed at the Sheraton in the West Lake district. As we had hoped, it was centrally located and and very comfortable. The breakfast buffet was fabulous. It might not be the hotel for you if it’s the in-depth local experience that you seek, but it’s pretty darn comfortable.
Our Foodie Tour
There are lots of similar tours to choose from, but the one we opted for is called “Hanoi Street Food Tour — See and eat like a Hanoian.” We loved it. The details are in the related posts. Is there anything I could possibly add? Nothing that I can think of at the moment. It was all good.
Other Food and Drink
Phở 10
We got our phở fix at a restaurant called “Phở 10.” It’s located close to Huan Kiem Lake at 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
Bia Hơi
The dueling bia hơi places are at the intersection of Hàng Bồ and Đường Thành streets, just northwest Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The one we stopped at was “Bia Hoi Ha Noi.”
Iced Coffee Spot
When we stopped and had lake-side iced coffees, we were at Thủy Tạ Cafe. There’s a nice-looking restaurant inside, and an outside terrace in the back. It’s located on the northwest edge of Hoàn Kiếm lake.
Just a Few Vietnam Resources Worth Checking Out
I found the following two websites to be particularly useful, interesting, and easy to read and navigate:
Vietnam Online
Once I discovered Vietnam Online, I found myself returning again and again to learn about travel ideas, Food, Hanoi — just about anything Vietnam. This link leads to their page on Hanoi. If you want to find out a lot about Hanoi in a short time, this is a good place to start.
Travelfish
Travelfish is full of practical information about traveling in Vietnam. They cover topics like being safe, avoiding scams, using phones, spending money, etc. (You know… the kind of very practical things that I almost never provide). And it’s easy reading, too. This is their Hanoi page.
Reference for the Old Quarter
There’s a travel company called “Old Quarter Travel” located in Hanoi. We didn’t have a chance to try them out, but they have a nice website, and on that website is a great page showing old versus new Hanoi. “Then and now” photographs of the same scene in the Old Quarter are presented , with explanations provided. It’s worth checking out, (maybe while you’re booking a tour to Sapa or Cat Ba Island with them??) “Hanoi’s old quarter, now and then” by Old Quarter Travel.
