Ahoy! Hanoi! I am coming!
01 March to 08 March 2009 – 8D7N
It was initially a customised (by me) private group tour but after my dear friends (you know who you are!!) all put me aeroplane leaving me with less than ideal number of people travelling together, it is going to be a free & easy tour.
Hanoi, Vietnam’s most interesting city, has a grand total of like 1 million and counting number of travel agents along with their equally massive number of motorcycles. The prices quoted online vary a lot and there are a WEALTH of well-meaning advice out there on what to do, what tours to join and which to avoid – all peppered with cleverly disguised travel agents not-so-subtly trying to promote their own tours.
I expected to put myself through hours and hours and hours of research online, but like many days of intensive research later, I still feel like there’s more information to be found – so much so that I felt like I was going to be handicapped and nothing would be worth living for if there was no such thing as the internet.
I will share all that I found out in the coming posts but first I want to recommend the sales guy (I assume is guy) whom I’ve been working very closely with for the private group tour till last minute I have to drop him and go the free & easy way.
Here’s a rough itinerary he proposed for me!
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, Check in to Kim Tuc Hotel, F&E
Day 2: Be picked up early in the morning for drive to Halong dock for the 3D2N picturesque Halong Bay cruise! Kayak and explore Luon Cave. Overnight onboard the Superior Pheonix Cruiser.
Day 3: Cat ba Island and up the National Park and climb to the top to enjoy the amazing view
Day 4: Cruise around till noon before we disembark and drive back to Hanoi. Take overnight train to SAPA in A/C soft sleeper 4 person cabins
That padi fields shot is so well taken… so beautiful.
I been planning to go to Vietnam for years now but no such time for such travel.
Have a great holiday
Ed: Ya and I shall force my lousy camera to take a shot like that when I’m there!!
Borneo Falcon: better go soon before it gets expensive! :)
I was there last year!
Bad traffic, u can learn how to cross the road very well there.
Bad air, my nose started to bleed on the third day!
But beer is very cheap! hehehe
Ju Ann: Guess what? I was hoping to go to Hanoi this year too. I hope that trip comes true because frankly my other half says we need to spend on our new home and all so trip to Vietnam is secondary! Sob. I do so like your itinerary though. Keep us all posted on your adventures in Hanoi.
wow you really did do your homework! but please tell us how you were satisfied with your trips to Halong Bay and Sapa cos I am planning our trip now! And when you come to the Middle East let me know!