After a long day visiting the Elephant Sanctuaries in the Jungles of Chiang Mai, we rushed to the airport and catch our afternoon flight to Vietnam. It was our last leg in SEA Trip. I was a little sentimental about it since the long trip is about to end! Well, we saved the best for last.
Hanoi;
Hanoi has a fantastic and modern airport called Noi Bai Airport, which is just 10 miles north of the city. It serves both domestic and international flights from hundreds of locations around the world. Assuming Hanoi is your port of entry into Vietnam, then you’ll probably be arriving at Noi Bai International Airport which is about 45 minutes from Hoan Kiem District. There are several ways to get to your hotel or Airbnb from the airport. But before the big adventure we saw P O P E Y E S ! ! ! ! and the rest was history LOL
**Make sure to check if you need a visa before arriving in Hanoi** (Americans and citizens from many other countries can apply for an e-visa online for $40). If you get an e-visa, you can pick it up at the airport if you print out the necessary papers. It’s easy.
In fact, if i plan on living from city to city in the near future, Hanoi will probably be our first stop. It’s one of our favourite cities so far and one we can really see myself living in.
Spend a few days exploring its tree-lined neighborhoods with crumbling but charming French colonial buildings, and you may understand why.
I’m a Philippine passport holder so I can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 21 days. Requirements and fees may vary depending on what passport you carry, so you can visit iVisa.com for more information and to apply. In my case, the process was quick and easy.
Technically, Hanoi has two main seasons – rainy (May-Sept) and dry (Oct-Apr) – though it does experience variances in weather that can simulate the four seasons.
The unit of currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). The best places to exchange foreign currency are at banks and gold/jewelry shops.
The most well known and important districts in Hanoi are Ba Dinh District (aka the French Quarter) where the government offices are located and Hoan Kiem District (aka the Old Quarter) which is considered the city’s business hub and main tourist destination.
Ba Dinh District (aka the French Quarter)
Hoan Kiem District (aka the Old Quarter)
Vietnamese cuisine encompasses the foods and beverages of Vietnam, and features a combination of five fundamental tastes in overall meals. Each Vietnamese dish has a distinctive flavor which reflects one or more of these elements.
CHEERS to Jana and Brey who made my Hanoi experiences magical :)
Part II - trip to where we stayed during our trip and more, CLICK ME!
-END-