North Vietnam

Travelling may take many different forms - as a leisure holiday, backpacking tour, exploration or immersive experiences. For me it has been always immersive.

Northern part of Vietnam

Vietnam is both exotic and compelling.

Vietnam's natural wonders, from Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta via the beaches of Da Nang, make it truly magical. Unforgettable experiences are everywhere in Vietnam. More than 80% of the population speak Vietnamese (Kinh), the national language. Ethnic minorities have native language. Major spiritual influences in Vietnam include Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and native religions. Major following is Buddhism followed by Christianity. The currency in Vietnam is Dong (VND).

We were making plans since long time for Vietnam, and finally here within 25days we booked the flight tickets from Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2) to Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport). For two of us the flight tickets costed 466 MYR one way.

From Kuala Lumpur city, there are 3-4 means to travel to KLIA2 airport.

• One is can drive by your own car or rent it.
• You can also book Grab Taxi which usually costs 55 MYR from city to airport.
• Then you can take the KLIA express train from KL sentral station, train is the fastest means it just takes 30 mins to reach airport and is usually not crowded. Train costs 55MYR /person.
• The cheapest means to go is by AC buses but which usually take 1hr-2hr depending on the traffic. Buses costs only 12 MYR per person. There are few bus stops like KL sentral, Pudu station and Batu.

We applied for Visa almost 10days before our date of travel and that was online via site. You can also apply directly from embassy or via your Tour agency. We got our visa via mail, within 3-5 working days 

Then we booked Hotels Online. You can book via various sites like Traveloka, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia and Hotels.com.

We left on 22nd April, boarded the 1pm Air asia flight from Kuala Lumpur and landed Hanoi at 3pm.

Its capital, Hanoi, has managed to retain its old-style feel despite an economic boom. Its Old Quarter is a riot of delectable food stalls, markets and labyrinthine streets. 

As read beforehand, so we booked grab taxi via Grab app and went eclipse hotel, which took approx 50mins. It felt same like India, overcrowded, , bustling with bikes, cars and other vehicles, and people rushing off on roads. 

We reached hotel, got some rest and went out to explore Hoan Kiem lake, bought data card/  SD Card from Digi Worldhanoi. I found there prayer style very interesting, wherein they serve their God whatever they like, there were cigarettes, champagne, snacks, fruits. Really different.

We took rickshaw ride and had vanilla overran ice cream near a theater were all the locals were having ice cream like crazy, then had dinner at 4 pizzas- orange juice and tomato basil pizza. It was delicious.

On 23rd- 8:20 am limosine was sent by the cruise authority which came to pick us, and dropped all the travelers at the port by 11 pm. 



Me and Ashish walked around for half an hr, by the time boarding started. 

Our luggage was taken care by the cruise staffs. 

We embarked to Alisa vessel at 12:30 pm and were proceeded and made to sit at the dining room. 

The Cruise manager introduced his team and briefed about the general information, introduction of cruise staffs and safety.

Buffet lunch was served at 1pm. It was exotic. One by one the servings started coming while we enjoyed the outside view from the cruise.

At 2pm we checked in to our cabins (room keys were directly available in the doors).

It was a big surprise for me as he booked the suite for our anniversary. 

It was awesome, beautiful, mesmerizing. I totally loved it.

We got freshen up and in half an hr, we were taken via a small boat to different Islands. 

He dropped by around Tung Sau area to do Kayaking, while I went more ahead to Ha Long Peral Farm.. ;) 

Pearl culture done here was totally different as it was oyster pearl farming. 

After one and a half hour we returned from Pearl farm to kayaking venue, everyone was picked and together we returned to our cruise.

Then in another half an hour, Visitors who do not wanna do anything/ go, can stay back at the cruise itself. I stayed back at the cruise to rest and enjoy the sail and mesmerizing nature's beauty.

This lady selling eateries in between the sea in the midst of cruises.

We were made to visit the Sung Sot cave for hiking, It's a huge cave, there are 720 steps in total. My better half visited it while I stayed back enjoying the view with my baby bump.

One can explore the stalactite and stalagmite formation. It almost takes 1.5 hr to cover the whole cave.

Then in evening, we all chillaxed, it was happy hour time at the sky bar with karaoke.

We even got the cooking demonstration for the famous Vietnamese spring roll, I made my own spring roll and had it. 

It was so much fun talking and mixing with various people especially the locals.

Then the dinner was served at the dining room and we finished by 9 pm. 

 

Then it was all your me time, if you wanna do Squid fishing at the back of the boat or relax. The scenic beauty at night was so soothing.

24th- We woke up at 6:15am for Tai chi class at alisa cruise. It was totally a fresh and motivational experience. After Tai Chi, we walked on the roof top, rested and enjoyed the beautiful sunrise.

Then had buffet breakfast at the cruise dining hall. 

At 7:40 am, we were taken to Ti top island for hiking and swimming for an hour and returned by boat to cruise. 

Again climbing up and down the steep stairs was tiring, but the view was really worth it. People were playing football, playing guitars, chit chatting, posing, relaxing.

We got freshen up, packed luggage and kept outside the room for the staffs to pick it up and get us directly at the port. Had quick lunch and boarded off by 12pm. 

We reached the port and went to Alisa office wherein the Limosine bus came at 12pm to pick us up from Alisa pick-drop office which dropped us to the hotel by 3pm.  

We booked grab to our other Symphony hotel. Rested for a while and left at 4ish for Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. 

There's a Museum as well, so the main museum was closed by 5pm. 

Just next door is Ho Chi Minh's house on stills and lying to on side of the Mausoleum is the One-Pillar Pagoda (the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.)

Art/ Temple of Literature had to buy ticket, so my hubby went to buy that ticket(30,000/pax), which also closes by 6pm. Just make sure you enter from the front gate as the ticket counter is there, in case you enter from other gates, then its a big round about long walk that you will have to take.

It's the most famous temple situated in Hanoi, also functioned as Vietnam's first university. It has got a vast campus that we explored.

On 25th, We started towards Ninh Binh and Tam coc by a limousine bus. A day before, we booked this tour by a tour agent for Ninh Binh. Morning 8 am tour bus and the guide came to pick us. 2 hr drive to Ninh Binh and stopped in between for 20 mins break at a handicraft shop cum restaurant. 

Took us around Tam Coc and went through 2 pagodas of the 2 richest first King of Vietnam.

The Boat ride was so soothing. Our cart rider was a young Vietnamese boy, they ride the cart by their leg it was so interesting. We crossed the paddy rice fields.

Then stopped in between for half an hour lunch at 11:30 am, meanwhile people interested in cycling were taken around for 25 mins cycling. Ashish went for cycling and then came and joined me for lunch, it was a spread buffet and nice food. From there we were taken to trang an, dropped 5 people there, then we 9 people were taken to tam coc for boating around the rice paddy field, ride was for almost 1 hr.. from 1:30 to 2:50 pm. The local people were rowing by leg in Tam coc wherein trang an people row by hands and all in dress code as covered by government. While way back bus picked trang an guyz and took bus to mua cave. I stayed back, Ashish went up with the group to mua cave (we paid separately for Ashish ticket i e.,100,000. it was 1 hr up and down, they went up at 3:30 pm and returned by 4:45 pm .

I waited and explored nearby area. Ashish explored both the sides. Then bus directly took us to Hanoi taking 15 mins break at 6 pm in between.

Our guide while on our way to Nin Binh told us about many a local beliefs and culture. 



Out of which few are like - People after they die and burried, they are reburried rest people in night. 500$ is the reburry cost by government. Now a days they started putting dead bodies on fire.

In that region, there are mainly only 2 rich people having cement factory- one is than thang who is in Ninh binh and second in Saigon region.

Government support for education till secondary and is free, and from high school costed. As before only 25% young people used to go to school.

In Vietnam, roughly its only 30% of land to stay.. others are everywhere mountain.

Population is around 10 million.

Vietnam - 96mil people, Hanoi - 8mil people, Ho Chi Minh -10mil, 

Da Nang -1 mil, Hue-1 mil, Hoi an - 1 lakh

There are 50% Buddhist, 30% Christian , and 20%rest culture in Vietnam.

When we went in April end from 27 April, it was holiday season as Vietnam won the war against the US. So, 3 days all gov offices, schools have holiday.

It's a beautiful place to visit, though there's bit language issue.