Discover Hanoi: 5D4N Solo Travel Guide for Cultural Exploration 🇻🇳✈️

This year, I took a leap and did something I never imagined — a solo adventure [raising hand R]. Vietnam proved to be incredibly budget-friendly, with expenses surprisingly low. For a 5-day, 4-night trip, including all the fun, food, and drinks, it only set me back 750 MYR (excluding airfare and accommodation).

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[airplane R] Round-trip AA ticket ———— 💰825 MYR
🧳 Hand carry +7kg round trip —— 💰124 MYR
🏠 4 nights accommodation ———— 💰510 MYR
🚌 Ninh Binh Day Trip ————— 💰149 MYR
🛵 Transportation —————— 💰150 MYR
🍲 Food and drinks —————— 💰283 MYR
🍺 Drinking (every day) ———— 💰171 MYR
💲 Total expenses —————— 💰2212 MYR
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[check-in R] Day 1 — Tam Dao
Given the 8-hour journey to Sapa, I opted for the closer destination of Tam Dao, just 1.5 hours from Hanoi. The winding mountain roads can be a bit nauseating, but the view is worth it. This quaint little town is perfect for a quick escape, with only two main attractions: the stone church and the castle.

Locals often visit to beat the heat, and while the scenery is serene, it might not be the most thrilling spot for everyone [laugh-cry R]. So, I’ll keep this brief.
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[check-in R] Day 2 — Hanoi
🏠 Accommodation: La Mandarina Hotel & Travel
Nestled in the heart of Hoan Kiem Lake, with the Old Quarter just a stone’s throw away, this hotel is a convenient base for exploring the city.

[polaroid R] Must-visit spots
– Hoan Kiem Lake
– St Joseph Cathedral
– Train Street
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[check-in R] Day 3 — Ninh Binh
🚌 Booked from Klook: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc/Trang An, Mua Cave Day Tour
[polaroid R] Highlights
– Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
– Trang An (often called the “Land Halong Bay”)
– Mua Cave (Sleeping Dragon Mountain)
[star R] Ninh Binh was the highlight of my trip.

The breathtaking landscapes were truly rejuvenating.
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[check-in R] Day 4 — Hanoi
[polaroid R] Must-visit spots
– Long Bien Bridge
– French Quarter
– Trang Tien Street (Uniqlo & Trang Tien Plaza)
– Hang Dao Night Market
– Ta Hien Bar Street
I also tried to visit Ba Dinh Square & Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, but unfortunately, my selfie stick wasn’t allowed in.

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[check-in R] Day 5 — [airplane R] 🇲🇾
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[raising hand R] Stay tuned for my next post on the culinary delights and beverages [coffee R]! 🔜