Guiding you around Vietnam one step at a time!
Last year I decided to take a trip I have wanted to do for years. Vietnam has always been on my radar so in May 2019 I took the plunge and travelled Vietnam from north to south. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
Over a three blog series, I am going to take you on a tour of the amazing country, its people and the unbelievable Vietnamese food, in bite-size steps to help you along your way.
With Vietnam leading the way on the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak, why not start planning your trip to this incredible country.
First of all, and maybe most importantly… how to get there!
How To Get There!
This sounds like a very strange thing to say, I know. However, from the UK I struggled to find good flights straight to Vietnam. Now, by good flights I always take the following into account; price, airline and travel time. Its all well and good getting a flight dirt-cheap. However, what good is that when you have a 12-hour airport stopover?
Initially, searching for flights to Vietnam (Hanoi in particular) was throwing up £850 return flights from Birmingham Airport, with a 12-hour stopover in New Delhi. Even when calling ‘Flight Centre’, they were also unable to find anything much better. SO… as I usually do, I decided to do it solo. Having travelled to Thailand a couple of times before, I know that Bangkok is the epicentre for South-East Asia.
I managed to find a flight to Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport, for £520 including baggage at great times and with Emirates! Thus meaning I could break up the trip with a night stopover in Bangkok, before departing for Vietnam the next day. Oh, and the cost of the flight from Bangkok to Vietnam… around £50/$61.
So with a saving of around £300/$366 under my belt, before I had even begun, this is why I put so much emphasis on ‘Good Flights’. They really can make or break a trip!
Cooky’s Cue 💮
Check out my article on how to find the best deals, ‘How to Scan The Skies With Skyscanner’
Hello Hanoi
So, my first stop in Vietnam was the capital, Hanoi. My honest first impressions… what the hell have I let myself in for. Seriously…
The roads are chaos! The ride from the airport to the hostel was basically 40 minutes of holding my breath and cringing. How someone wasn’t killed in front of my eyes was a miracle!
However, this is something you later don’t even bat an eyelid at after a day or two. Throughout the country, the roads are all complete lawless chaos…BUT it works! Everyone is so insane on the road, the chaos works. I did not see a single accident in my entire journey – thank God!
The capital city is absolutely bustling. The old town is a labyrinth of tight alleyways, pedestrianised streets and market places. However, just because a place is called ‘Walking Street’ does NOT mean that there won’t be vehicles, mainly scooters/mopeds hurtling down them with anywhere between 1-5 people on. YES, you read that right! The most amount of people I saw on a moped within the old town streets were FIVE!
Old Town, Hanoi
The old town is the centre of the city, with bars, street food, markets, night markets, live entertainment and street performers. The place is incredible! The main square by the fountain is closed off to traffic (ACTUALLY closed off) and is where you will find street entertainers and locals just kicking back, many of whom play traditional Vietnamese games in the streets. Don’t be shy to say hello, as I was even invited to join in a group playing Vietnamese ‘hacky sack’, played with a kind of shuttlecock with cymbals on.
Make sure you look ahead and get to see visit the night markets held three times a week! Cheap clothing, amazing souvenirs and even better street food. This market street continues for around 1KM!
Where to Drink
The main place to drink in Hanoi is a backpackers paradise! The venue Ta Hein Street… also referred to by the locals as ‘Dirty Backpacker Street’. This is the centre of nightlife in the capital and is famous for its nightlife. There are ‘bars’, but essentially it is a metropolis of bars crammed in, most of which you sit outside in tiny plastic stools and tables. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the comfiest for westerners. It does, however, create such a unique atmosphere for customers to experience the ancient local lifestyle.
It is bar after bar, serving beer and food and goes on until the early hours. It also is not just a place for backpackers, the area is actually very popular amongst locals as well. It may seem ‘quiet’ before 12 am, but watch the place EXPLODE after this. In the same block of buildings, there are also more of a club scene where you are likely to meet people from all over the world.
Hanoi was home to the cheapest beer I found in Vientnam…No, the WORLD! The best price I found for a local beer was £0.16p/ $0.20c! This was just being served on the streets by a street vendor, it wasn’t in any bar as such, but who can turn down a £0.16 beer? If you stick around the Ta Hein area you won’t be too far away from a great night out!
Where and what to eat
Hanoi is full of amazing food and drink. It’s cheap, but quality too! The Hanoi weekend market is an absolute must! With quality clothing at an incredible price (get your haggling head-on) and street vendors everywhere, there is no end to what you can have. The street food is cooked right in front of your eyes and was absolutely delicious!
In fact, I actually went back to the same vendor lady twice as it was so good! However, the restaurants all around the old quarter especially are fantastic too. It is hard to pinpoint a specific venue as there simply is too many to go through, but just look at how busy a place is. that’s usually a great guide. One of these restaurants was also the place where I was introduced to Pho!
Pho is something you will get to know about VERY quickly while in Vietnam. Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup broth that traditionally houses rice noodles, herbs and meat. You usually get the choice of beef or chicken, although there are vegetarian options. It’s an extremely tasty and EXTREMELY cheap street food that you will fall in love with. It is THE go-to meal and never fails to disappoint!
For those of you looking for a later night meal after a few of the local tipples, then look no further than the street vending banh mi! A Vietnamese delicacy and one of the tastiest sandwiches in the world. Loaded with grilled meat, vegetables and spicy sauce on a Vietnamese bread… it’s just what the doctor ordered, pre or post beer!
Where to Stay
During my stay in Hanoi, I stayed in a couple of places but only saw the capital by night in between arriving and visiting Halong Bay. However, my pick of Hanoi would definitely be Cacoon Inn Hostel. Situated in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, it offers budget travel accommodation with great quality. The beds were amongst the comfiest I experienced on my travel through Vietnam. An added bonus… curtains around each individual bunk. So it even had privacy…for a hostel.
Electronic fobs for your locker was a great addition and knowing that your valuables are secure is always a bonus. The dorms all also have an ensuite for each room. The Cacoon Hostel also boasts its own bar and drink offers with free wifi throughout. A roof terrace tops off the stay with great views of the vibrant city below. What’s more, you can get a bed in a four-bed dorm for around £8/$9.80 a night including breakfast!
Cacoon Hostel 
The Dorms
Cooky’s Cue 💮
Need help with your accomadation? Feel free to drop me a message via the comments below, instagram or facebook. Otherwise, check out the ‘Travel Offers’ page for discount on your next booking!
And The Story Continues
Be sure to stay tuned to Travel With Cooky to follow my hints and tips as I travel Vietnam from north to south. My next stop is the incredible Halong Bay!
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Founder and creator of Travel With Cooky.
This website and its blog posts are based on my own experiences and recommendations. My goal is for you to learn how to travel the world on a budget as I do and help you see more of the beautiful world we live in!
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