Hanoi Travel Disappointment: What You Need to Know Before Visiting
The final leg of my Vietnam journey, Hanoi, left me pondering for a long time, struggling to find the right words. After much deliberation, I still can’t escape the term “disappointment.” While Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat shattered my preconceptions about Vietnam, Hanoi has unfortunately rekindled them.
On January 30th, we caught an 11 am flight from Da Lat to Hanoi. After a taxi ride to our homestay in the Old Quarter, near the bustling bar street (I would advise those seeking tranquility to avoid this area), we set out to explore. The moment we stepped out, the cacophony and chaos of Hanoi hit us like a wave.
Despite my mental preparation, the relentless honking and swerving motorcycles quickly became overwhelming. Navigating the crowded streets was a challenge, and even with a tight grip on my bag, I found myself constantly bumping into passersby. We spotted a rickshaw by the roadside and negotiated a fair price (300,000 VND for 40 minutes).
As we rode, the vibrant street scenes unfolded before us. The rickshaw stopped at the cathedral, but it was closed, so we continued to a nearby street stall for sunflower seeds, mango with sour sauce, and egg coffee. The experience was a mix of relaxation and mild annoyance, as stepping on sunflower seed shells in the heart of the city felt somewhat out of place.
On January 31st, we booked a half-day tour to the Incense Village through Klook. The day began with a visit to a local villager’s home, where we painted Vietnamese conical hats. Next, we headed to the Incense Village to witness the intricate process of incense making and took some photos. The tour bus then dropped us off at Train Street, where we waited for the afternoon train to pass by, sipping coffee at a nearby café.
In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show, purchasing middle-tier tickets for 150,000 VND.
On February 1st, my friend had to work on their graduation thesis, so I booked a one-day tour to Halong Bay the night before. A dramatic turn of events ensued! The travel agency assured me that someone would contact me at 10 pm on January 31st, but no one did. The next morning, I waited at the homestay for the pick-up between 8:00-8:30 am, but by 9 am, there was no sign of the vehicle.
Frustrated, I went to the travel agency, only to find it closed. I vented my frustration to the guy at the neighboring café. Finally, when the travel agency opened at 10:30 am, the staff was surprised to see me and immediately called the driver, admitting they had forgotten about me. I expressed my anger without holding back.
They refunded me, but I had wasted half a day and missed out on Halong Bay, further tarnishing my impression of Hanoi. In the afternoon, I sought solace in the art museum.
Then, I headed to the spa, having splurged on a premium package that was already above market price. To my surprise, the masseuse still asked for a tip, leaving me quite speechless 🙄.
2.2
In the morning, I caught a flight ✈️ back to Singapore. In a rush, I stopped at a street vendor to grab two baguettes. The vendor charged 150,000 VND for both, which was shockingly steep compared to the usual 20,000-50,000 VND per baguette. Filled with disappointment, I made my way to the airport, vowing never to return to Hanoi ❗️🙂.
