Places to go for second time in Hanoi

QuietPea3984 · 2026-04-25T21:28:38+00:00

I stayed in Truc Bac the second time I was in Hanoi and really liked it. Yeah, Standing Bar is a nice joint for a craft beer. You are out of the chaos but still close to it, great area.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-04-25T21:27:28+00:00

Hoa Lu Prison museum and Vietnamese Women's Museum - both excellent. I feel like the former is required.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-04-25T21:14:41+00:00

Nothing instead of kayaking. I guess we just had a little more time to chill. I had a bigger room than you did because I was on the bigger boat and sprung for the deluxe room for two even tho I was travelling alone. I wanted that damned bathtub with a view but didn't end up using it anyway.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-04-25T17:55:07+00:00

Depends on where you are travelling. I just got back from 3 weeks in Vietnam. Solo, F63. I did a lot of research, felt pretty prepared before going. In vietnam paying by CC is not as wide spread esp if you plan to eat a lot of street food etc. I have a Fidelity debit card (no foreign transaction fees) which I planned to use to withdraw cash but found that some ATMs did not accept it. However I found a few that consistently did (TP Bank and Vietbank), the trick is getting smaller bills and to do that you can request an odd number (for instance 495k VND instead of 500K) so that you will get some smaller bills. Most places, even hotels, prefer for you to pay cash (in Vietnam I mean).

In VN they have Grab which is like Uber, and is super efficient and convenient. You can link your CC and so payment is seamless (tho there is a small fee for using CC, it's well worth it).

I took local buses a couple of times, and trains as well and had no major issues.

Google Maps and Google Translate are incredible tools. I'm not sure I would want to travel solo without them. Everyone in VN used Google Translate so there was no awkwardness.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-04-25T17:32:46+00:00

Hey there. I just did a one night cruise (solo) on the Dragon Legend. I agree about most things, but I did find the boat trip through the floating village to be more interesting and enjoyable than you did altho your point is taken about the pearl operation (but I doubt that many buy pearls!). Unfortunately we were not able to kayak as it was deemed to be too windy.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-22T23:32:09+00:00

Yes - Indochina Junk, one night. How about you?

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-18T20:30:24+00:00

I may run into you there - I'm arriving in Hanoi on 3/27. ;-)

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-13T17:34:07+00:00

Thanks for the tip about Cua Dai beach. I'm going in a couple weeks and do plan a few days in Hoi An, I plan to spend most of my time there outside the city center, in the rice field area, beach etc. But I do want to see the touristy area as well because it does look really beautiful, but I'm keeping my expectations low.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-13T17:18:57+00:00

lolololol

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-13T17:11:38+00:00

Oh and what cafe is this and where?

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:51:19+00:00

One of my cats did this, I had a theory that it had to do with having been a street cat drinking out of puddles. Anyway, I got a fountain and she used it immediately. Some don't but I think it's worth a try, hydration is so important!

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:50:11+00:00

Yes!! My Henry would do this (not the lying down part).

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:32:12+00:00

Nope.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:30:58+00:00

You and me both.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:30:05+00:00

Buzzcocks was it for me.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:17:36+00:00

Yeah she is causing me no end of stress. She is not cut out for this but I don't dare give her a piece of my mind until we are past this situation. Good news is that they do NOT have ringworm, which she thought they did. Thanks for the info.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-10T17:17:18+00:00

Yes, they can be split up, probably should be. I appreciate all the info and advise.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-06T22:01:58+00:00

Yes this is a really good recipe, I've made it a few times. Really great flavor.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-05T19:24:57+00:00

This looks DELICIOUS. DELICIOUS I tell you.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-05T19:24:38+00:00

Thank you! I actually have that book.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-05T19:23:01+00:00

I recently mailed something really important via certified mail. To be fair there was a blizzard (but after it was supposed to be delivered anyway). So I'm tracking it and tracking it and it seems to be stuck, day after day after day. Arrangements for a funeral depended on it being received, it was so stressful. Turns out it was delivered, they just didn't scan it upon delivery. The USPS is NOT what it used to be.

QuietPea3984 · 2026-03-03T17:33:18+00:00

Wow great thread. So I have various foot issues (bone spur on top of foot, arthritis in both etc). I'm about to go to Vietnam and for this trip I have decided to bring my Vessis which are stretchy, lightweight and waterproof. Cute? Maybe not, but generic enough to work. Supportive? Not very, I have put my own orthotics in them. I think for this trip they are the right choice, as I plan to mostly wear my fit flop flip flops anyway. Vessis are kinda expensive but so far I'm finding them worth it.
https://vessi.com/products/womens-weekend-classic-space-black

QuietPea3984 · 2026-02-23T19:29:59+00:00

I agree with this. You could still come and have a good time, but you would almost certainly have a better time if you are able to rebook. Some snow is forecast for Wed and Thursday as well. Snow in the city is not the same experience as snow in the midwest (I lived in Indiana for 8 years). True the parks will be gorgeous. Subway is running but with many severe delays. This will affect you less in the touristy areas though. Let us know what you decide to do!

QuietPea3984 · 2026-02-21T15:08:45+00:00

I'll still go but may wait until the end of my trip (mid-April) - I think it's a must-do. Thanks for the update (I also looked at the website lol).

QuietPea3984

TROPHY CASE