Rocsteady wrote:Off to Hanoi next week for the first time which I'm really excited about. Though its meant to be raining the entire time which is a bit depressing.
Doing Sapa, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay plus a few days either side in the city.
I loved Hanoi. I used it as a base for the surrounding area for about 3 weeks when I did my 6 months in S.E. Asia a few years back and am tempted to go back next February. It's chaotic, busy, and a bit dirty, but it's also very charming. Lots of pretty old colonial buildings, interesting landmarks, and great food. Chilling out with an iced Vietnamese coffee, watching the bikes whiz by is great fun. I preferred it to Saigon for sure, which was a bit too Westernized for me.
Ninh Binh is also really nice. Super picturesque. The climb up Hang Mua is a slog, but you can get amazing views out over the area. We didn't do Ha Long Bay, but did Bai Tu Long Bay as it is a bit quieter, and really enjoyed our little cruise. It was only a night (I think) but it was weirdly one of the best nights of sleep we got the whole trip
I'll plug my girlfriend's blog as she has a bunch of posts on Vietnam including Ninh Binh, Bai Tu Long Bay, Hanoi, and food
https://curioussparrowtravel.com/category/vietnam/