What did I love most about Vietnam and the capital city and second largest city in terms of population? To visit - from Hanoi, which we did, or from anywhere in Vietnam to their top attraction, a trip to Halong Bay where the jagged conical peaks of stone half covered in greenery are reflected in the blue water.
To buy as souvenirs - the clothes, the ladies' long side slit dresses which you can buy everywhere, and embroidery of the swirling dresses on bags,
Police Museum
The Police Museum is free. Two storeys of exhibits. copious captions and photos and models.
Vespa Exhibition in Restaurant
Have tea or dinner at the Italian restaurant where you can see exhibits of Vespas and pictures and stories about its invention.
Food
Note cafe has notes all over walls and chairs and the toilet; so with your coffee and cake or snack a constant entertainment.
Breakfast and fridge for leftovers
Breakfast included at some hotels for residents such as the Sunline Paon where I stayed.
They had no lunch or dinner but a fridge in the room so we could save leftovers from meals out in the evenings.
After staying there a week and saying goodbye, they said we could take anything we liked from the buffet for our journey.
Souvenir Keyring
Take the blue hop on hop off bus and you are given a free souvenir key ring and map.
Walks
Walk around the lake in the old quarter.
No Reductions
No reductions for seniors for overseas visitors at museums.
Free Slippers
Overnight guests at Sunline Paon hotel are invited to take home the towelling slippers.
Free Drinking Water
Our bedroom at Sunline Paon hotel was supplied with two small bottles of water every day. (They advise against drinking tap water.)
The Police Museum is free. Two storeys of exhibits. copious captions and photos and models.
Vespa Exhibition in Restaurant
Have tea or dinner at the Italian restaurant where you can see exhibits of Vespas and pictures and stories about its invention.
Food
Note cafe has notes all over walls and chairs and the toilet; so with your coffee and cake or snack a constant entertainment.
Breakfast and fridge for leftovers
Breakfast included at some hotels for residents such as the Sunline Paon where I stayed.
They had no lunch or dinner but a fridge in the room so we could save leftovers from meals out in the evenings.
After staying there a week and saying goodbye, they said we could take anything we liked from the buffet for our journey.
Souvenir Keyring
Take the blue hop on hop off bus and you are given a free souvenir key ring and map.
Walks
Walk around the lake in the old quarter.
No Reductions
No reductions for seniors for overseas visitors at museums.
Free Slippers
Overnight guests at Sunline Paon hotel are invited to take home the towelling slippers.
Free Drinking Water
Our bedroom at Sunline Paon hotel was supplied with two small bottles of water every day. (They advise against drinking tap water.)
Overview
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoi
For transport
Free Vietnamese Language on the internet
For hotels
Comparison site:
For cheap airlines and deals
vietjetAir.com (Comprehensive list of budget airlines in Wikivoyage.)
For transport
https://www.grab.com/vn/en/
Avoid hailing taxis in the street. They can run meters fast.
Avoid hailing taxis in the street. They can run meters fast.
Free Vietnamese Language on the internet
Duolingo.com
Vietnamese
https://www.duolingo.com/skill/vi/Alphabet-1/3
Free list of popular Vietnamese words and phrases
At the back of a hotel magazine.
(Remember to click on the sound symbol to hear how words are pronounced.)
If you are going to gourmet Corner restaurant in La Siesta Diamond hotel look for the hotel group magazine in the lobby. Either take or photograph all or photograph some or copy out or memorize the words in the handy language list on the inside back page.
Free Maps
Look in the lobby of hotel receptions for a free map. Tour package shops also have maps. The ones advertising the hop on hop off buses are good. These maps are given away free at the hop on hop off booking kiosks when you book a tour.
Hotels also have a one sheet simple map showing their location. Often if you are in a restaurant in the hotel, or just pop in to enquire, you can ask for the map and get the receptionist to mark the hotel and a nearby landmark.
If you are going to gourmet Corner restaurant in La Siesta Diamond hotel look for the hotel group magazine in the lobby. Either take or photograph all or photograph some or copy out or memorize the words in the handy language list on the inside back page.
Located on the top floor of La Siesta Diamond hotel, the Gourmet Corner restaurant boasts the finest food.
Free Maps
Look in the lobby of hotel receptions for a free map. Tour package shops also have maps. The ones advertising the hop on hop off buses are good. These maps are given away free at the hop on hop off booking kiosks when you book a tour.
Hotels also have a one sheet simple map showing their location. Often if you are in a restaurant in the hotel, or just pop in to enquire, you can ask for the map and get the receptionist to mark the hotel and a nearby landmark.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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