Embark on a captivating journey through Vietnam's treasures with this guide.
• In Hanoi, savor diverse street food, and explore the Old Quarter's charm.
• Venture to Ninh Binh, where limestone karsts and ancient temples create a breathtaking landscape.
• Then, set sail for Cat Ba Island, a haven of lush landscapes and pristine beaches.
What’s in the guide?
🛵 Attractions. 👄 Local Food. 🌏 Stay.
*This guide is constantly being updated.
**Appreciate tips (at the bottom of the page) if you find this helpful!
I prefer slow travel whenever I can, which means longer stay in each place to discover the local culture and day-to-day truly.
If I only have a short timeframe in Hanoi, this is what I will do:
- short stay for the arrival place (1 night or half-day)
- moving quickly at the start is not an issue, because it is where I have the most energy
- explore more of smaller towns, make it worth the trip, and because it takes slightly more travel time if I do want to come back to it
Of course, that is based on my preference. So feel free to tailor it according to you!
General info
Transport
Within Hanoi: Ride-Hailing Apps
Popular - Grab App, Grab Bike. Gojek App, GoRide.
Local - Be App.
Intercity travel
Easy to arrange. Speak to your accommodation receptionist, to know: the different timings, the duration, the cost.
In Small Towns: Ninh Binh, Cat Ba Island
Local bikes and taxi hailing. No ride-hailing apps.
Vietnam Tips
✔ Communication: Establish contact easily with your hotel/driver/tour operator/restaurant etc via WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger, or Google Message. I'm surprised at how quickly they reply. It's so accessible and convenient. Get answers to anything at your fingertips!
✔ Price compare: Outside of Hanoi, if you can't drive a scooter, there are only local taxis. Negotiate for your first ride and get their WhatsApp number so you can ask them the price for subsequent rides. I usually use that to compare with another local taxi when I'm leaving the location.
(You can DM my instagram @carrine.travels if you need a local taxi contact for Ninh Binh)
If you have time, visit the largest Buddhist complex in Vietnam, right here in Ninh Binh.
🎟️ Entrance is free, but to get to the top of the pagoda, Bao Thap Tower, is 50,000 VND.
Specialty: Goat pho (noodle soup). Grilled goat meat.
Opened since 1995. Well prepared and delicious, with a cooking father and popular food like fried spring rolls, beef pho, and grilled goat.
Ha long means “descending dragon”. UNESCO Heritage. Marvel at thousands of limestone cliffs and islands.
🔸Opinion: I saw a lot of trash floating even when my tour was passing by Halong for a short 15mins. Very sad. It is exactly like those YT vids shown. I see none at Lan Ha and the guide said the villagers are being educated about irresponsible trash habits that harms the environment.
🔸Note: Halong and Lan Ha bay are govern by separate districts. The tour I took had both licenses to go into both bays.
Regarded as “forgotten haven”. Smaller than Ha long but a lot quieter and a different kind of beauty.
🔸Opinion: I saw a lot of trash floating at Halong bay even when my tour was passing by for a short 15mins. Very sad. It is exactly like those YT vids shown. I see none at Lan Ha and the guide said the villagers are being educated about irresponsible trash habits that harms the environment.
🔸Note: Halong and Lan Ha bay are govern by separate districts. The tour I took had both licenses to go into both bays.
Popular local beach. It can get really crowded over the weekends.
It was so crowded on a Sunday that I decided to leave so I did not explore the coastal trails.
Danced the whole night here with travelers I've met at Cat Ba. The music was so good. Drink mixers are mediocre, but not an issue since I had great company.
It was a Sunday and the dance floor was packed! We were the last survivors and stayed till the closing.
Add to
Details
Why did I not take the tour from Halong Bay?
I have chosen not to head to Halong Bay directly, including other travelers I've met along the way, because of 3 reasons:
➊ Pollution. Halong Bay is very polluted due to mass tourism (based on research from YT vids & reviews, and I've seen it on the tour I went on as well),
➋ Crowded. Tours are packed with 100 people on the boat with rushed itineraries,
➌ Expensive (>USD 500 for 1 day, it’s just not it for me)
So it was more worth it to cruise from Cat Ba Island, which includes mainly Lan Ha Bay (the more feminine bay) and Ha Long Bay.
Important Notes: Cat Ba Boat Tour
I took a tour from Cat Ba Vision. Less than 30 pax onboard. Day trip, around 8 hours. Cruise across both Lan Ha Bay & Ha Long Bay. Loved the kayak activity through the caves, you'll be paired up if you're solo. Lunch onboard was freshly cooked by a local chef, it was amazing.
Fun fact: Cat Ba Island and Ha Long is governed by different municipal government. Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay belongs to Haiphong, and Ha Long belongs to Quang Ninh. Any captain who operates across both bays are required to have two licenses because of this.
Cat Ba Tour Operators:
These two have tours with less than 30 pax. I took the one with Cat Ba Vision!
Big portion for a good price. Great seafood hotpot at this place. Best place to savor the freshness of the sea. Nice place to chat with fellow travelers as well.
I'm Carrine – A spirited female solo traveler with a passion for adventure, exquisite cuisine, and the thrill of exploration.
Fueling my love for travel, I'm sharing my itineraries for free where like-minded female travelers can enjoy exploring the beauty of our planet conveniently.
Here's what you can expect from me:
🔥 Local Street Food
🗺️ Authentic Travels
😴 Accomodation Tiers
I believe in offering free information and I hope you enjoy what you find on your travel journey.
If you'd like to thank me, show your support by saving this guide! 🫶🏼
★彡[ᴄᴀʀʀɪɴᴇ.ᴀɴᴅ.ʜᴇʀ.ꜱᴏʟᴏ.ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟꜱ]彡★
Hey, fellow adventurers! 🌺
I'm Carrine – A spirited female solo traveler with a passion for adventure, exquisite cuisine, and the thrill of exploration.
Fueling my love for travel, I'm sharing my itineraries for free where like-minded female travelers can enjoy exploring the beauty of our planet conveniently.
Here's what you can expect from me:
🔥 Local Street Food
🗺️ Authentic Travels
😴 Accommodation Tiers
I believe in offering free information and I hope you enjoy what you find on your travel journey.
If you'd like to thank me, show your support by saving my guides! 🫶🏼
IG: @carrine.travels
Booking.com: https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=8081585
