Hanoi

My sister and I did our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last month. I was a little anxious about this one but it was all for naught. We were safe, had only very minor travel issues, and just had a great time.

We chose Hanoi because that's where the tours to Halong Bay leave from and that was the big draw for us to go to northern Vietnam.

Temple of Literature - Vietnam's 1st University

 

We were actually in Hanoi too many days. The city is chaotic and busy and is not really friendly to foot travelers. Walking takes a lot of concentration just so you don't get hit by a car or scooter. We could have cut out almost 2 full days there and been perfectly fine. Chalk that one up to experience.

The food was excellent! And cheap. That alone was worth a visit.

Pho!



 

Ho Chi Minh's memorial

 

We didn't get to go in because it was closed but it was one of the things on my list to see and didn't disappoint. We didn't stay much longer than just getting a few pictures. The sun came out from the clouds and it got hot. The sun and humidity just did us in.

 Hoa Lo Prison

 

We didn't do too many historical sites from the Vietnam war. This prison was much older than the Vietnam war, but was nicknamed "Hanoi Hilton" during the war.



Presidential Palace

 

The office government buildings were all this lovely cheese color.

 

Ho Kiem Lake

 

All things considered, if I ever got back to Vietnam I would go see central and southern parts, or even more northern like Sapa. But Hanoi was ok to visit once.