Discovering Hanoi

Hanoi was just as busy and buzzing as I remembered. With over 5 million motorbikes and about 8 million people, it’s non-stop, but in the best possible way.

Checking in at the Oriental Jade Hotel, right in the middle of the Old Quarter, felt like a treat. The service was brilliant and you honestly couldn’t ask for a better spot - step out and you’re straight into the heart of the action. Still, my favourite bit was the rooftop pool and bar, which offers the perfect escape to relax above the chaos below.

One part I loved: along with the usual hotel info (WiFi details, breakfast times etc...), they actually gave us written tips on how to cross the road! Not something you often see but if you’ve been to Hanoi, you’ll know what I mean. You just have to pick your spot, step out, and keep going, no sudden moves. It somehow works!

Evenings were spent exploring the night markets and wandering down to Hoan Kiem Lake, with its beautiful red bridge lit up across the water. The city has this lovely laid-back feel. Everyone you meet is really polite and welcoming - nobody’s pushy at all.

After all those steps, we treated ourselves to a spa session (the first of three while I was there!). You just can’t beat the value: most treatments, from massages to facials, are between €15—€30. Absolute bargain.

The next day we started off at the famous Train Street. The hotel phoned ahead to a café owner, so we timed it just right to see the train pass by. There we were, sipping coffee as the train squeezed down the narrow track, just inches from where we were sitting. Only in Hanoi!

After that, we hopped on a Vespa tour around the city. This is hands-down the best way to see Hanoi come alive - scooting down winding backstreets, taking in the sights and sounds, you feel like you’re part of the action. Yes, there’s loads of beeping, but it’s not angry or stressful, just everyone letting you know they’re there. We finished up the tour with a gorgeous Vietnamese lunch and their famous egg coffee (trust me, it’s a must-try).

That evening, we set off on a street food tour. Eating out on little stools at the roadside, tucking into tasty dishes with chopsticks and washing it down with local beer - it’s such good fun and the food is incredible.

We had planned to do an overnight trip to Halong Bay, but the weather didn’t play ball this time (though I did experience a night on a junk boat here on my last visit - amazing!). Instead, we took the chance to visit Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh is often called ‘Halong Bay on land,’ and you can see why: huge limestone cliffs, lush green rice paddies, winding rivers - it’s stunning. We explored ancient temples and climbed almost 500 stone steps to the Dragon Viewpoint for the most breathtaking views over the area, looking out over Tam Coc and the river winding through the rice fields. Then it was onto the water for a boat trip, rowed by locals using their feet (so impressive!). The scenery was something else.

Hanoi is definitely a city I could visit over and over again. It’s a fantastic starting point if you want to explore Vietnam from north to south, and it’s also easy to add Cambodia onto your trip.

Check out the highlights from my trip on Instagram