The trip to Angkor Wat and Ha Long Bay - Part 2

Our trip itinerary to Ha Long Bay and Hanoi had to be changed due to the last minute cancelation of a 2 day 1 night cruise on Ha Long Bay by the provider .  The upside of the change was that we could immerse ourselves in Hanoi, get to know it more intimately.  

We stayed in one hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi for 3 nights and another hotel outside the old quarter, near west lake for 2 nights.

Day 5 ...Hanoi Walking Tour

walking around in old Quarter of Hanoi...

1. Ho Hoan Kiem Lake, 
2. St. Joseph Cathedral, 
3. Train Streets, 
4. Hoan Thanh Thang Long (imperial palace)

Ho Hoan Kiem

St. Joseph Cathedral in old quarter Hanoi

Day 6 ... Ha Long Bay day cruise

It takes about 2.5 hour drive to Ha Long Bay. 

The best cruise should be 2 day one night cruise - see Ha Long Bay in 2 days, the bay should be less crowded in the early morning

In addition to cruise on the bay, we also stopped to
Climb Tip-Top mountain
Explore a dry cave - Sung Sot Cave
Kayak at Hang Luon - a lagoon surrounded by mountains and connected to the bay through a cave

 

Is there a monkey at the top of the stalagmite?

Day 7 ... Walking tour at Hanoi

1. West lake (Ho Tay)
2. Den Quan Thanh - temple
3. Chua Tran Quoc (Pagoda)
4. Presidential Palace
5. Ho Chi Minh's Maosoleum
6. One Pillar Pagoda
7. Water Puppet Show

We had breakfast outside the hotel at Pho 10 (a Michelin guide recommended restaurant), had Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) in a street food stall, had fusion food for dinner at Vietnam Garden.

Chua Tran Quoc

sign of a BanhMi stall

Water Puppet Show

Day 8 ... Day tour to Ninh Binh

Ninh Bihn is an ancient capital of Vietnam, about 100km south from Hanoi. Ninh Binh area is claimed to be the inland Ha Long Bay.

1. Climbed a mountain with a dragon on top
2. Biked in the rural area before lunch
3. River Rafting through caves

We had Cha Ca (rice noodle with fish cakes), another Vietnamese food this night, for dinner.

North Gate to the Palace courtyard

Day 9 ...half day excursion to the outskirt of Hanoi

visited incense village,  hat making village
return flight in the evening

colorful incense 

Palm tree leave cone hat making and painting