go flashpacker

… there I’ve said it!  Let me explain the reasons for this…

First off it’s very easy to get to.  Choose from flying in via KL, Singapore, Bangkok, Luang Prabang, the list goes on…  Lets just say (otherwise I will be listing airports for a while) that Hanoi is easy to get to from a large number of SEA cities.  The airport, Noi Bai, is located 28 miles north of Hanoi and the journey takes around 45 minutes.  All hotels will offer an airport pickup service which if you are unfamiliar with the territory makes a good option, especially as stories of dodgy taxi drivers are easy to find – normally telling you your requested hotel is closed, so instead take you to one of their choosing!  Local buses are also available to take you into central Hanoi, but as I am normally far too excited about arriving I plan to have the hotel pick me up – I am flashpacking after all

Secondly Hanoi is a very pretty city.  The architecture is mainly in an old French colonial style, with wide avenues connecting tiny alleyways… if you like looking at old buildings (as I do) then this is a great city to explore.

So what is there to do in Hanoi?

Personally I like to avoid the tourist attractions as such when in a city, preferring to people watch in small cafes (bars!) or go walking, this is why I head straight to the Old Quarter to get a taste of Hanoian life.  Exploring the narrow streets (don’t forget to get a map from your hotel) and the great markets, you will soon experience the sights (and smells) of daily life.  Traders and their families live close to the street, mostly behind the small doorways that act as shop fronts, so you are never too far away from the action.  Most streets seem to have shops specialising in one particular item, for example if you need a bag there is a street for that – if you need shoes there is a street for that, you get the picture.

There are hotels a plenty here too, so there should be no problem finding a place to lay your head.  A couple of favourites of ours are the Elegance 2 on Ma May, and The Queen Hotel on Hang Bac – both of which offer good quality flashpacker accommodation.  This being Hanoi though means you are never to far away from the noise of scooters, or to be more precise the sound of the riders beeping their horns… It seems in Hanoi (and Vietnam in general) the beeping of your horn is merely a sign to others that you have a horn… not that someone is in the way!  Something to bear in mind if you have a room overlooking the street.  See the video below for a short introduction…

The Old Quarter is also a great place for people watching at the many “bia hoi” spots that spring up as night falls.  Bia Hoi being the locally brewed lager beer that costs about 50p for a glass – nothing better than squatting on a tiny stool drinking the night away with locals and travellers alike.

When day breaks head to Hoan Kiem Lake, and join the residents of this great city in an early morning stroll around the lake.  Be prepared to assist students in speaking English if you sit around the lake – one of the most memorable moments for me in Hanoi is listening to students reading from their text books, whilst repeating pronunciation of vowels over and over and over… brilliant!

Hanoi is also a great base to explore the surround area and do a few overnight trips from.  So this could either be heading to Halong Bay (will cover in future blogs as it’s worth one on it’s own) to stay on a junk amongst the limestone karsts.  Or a good day trip is to Tam Coc (also known as Inland Halong) to relax on a small  boat whilst being rower under caves – invariably the person rowing you will be double your age and you will wonder just how they do this day in day out!

I love Hanoi, and you will too…

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 24th, 2010