As the title suggests, I revisited Hanoi after 4 years! This time, my main objective was trekking in Savannah. Strictly speaking, Hanoi was a stopover point and we barely spent time there. Yet, Hanoi never fails to surprise me even with our minimal time there.
Instead of sightseeing (which I had done during my previous trip), what we mainly did was hunting for good food and roaming around like a local. Continue reading to find out more!
Please click here to check out my previous posts about travelling around Vietnam. :)
Accommodation
Authentic Hanoi Homestay
If you are looking for budget-friendly accommodation, I would totally recommend this! While you cannot expect top-notch facilities and furnishings, the room is clean and spacious. However, there is no lift inside the building so it might be worthwhile to check which floor you will be staying before the trip. We were lucky to stay at the second level and the room comes with a private bathroom that is located outside the room. I am not sure if you need to share the bathroom with other travellers if you stay at other levels.
Stay per night = SGD12.30 per pax per night
(+) Value for money, good location with close proximity to multiple attractions and food places
(-) Slightly rundown, hairdryer not provided (sorry, this is extremely important for a long-haired girl)
Food
Bun Cha Dac Kim
Address: No. 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.
Opening hours: 9am to 9pm daily
I have officially declared that bun cha (noodles with grilled pork) is my favourite local dish during my previous visit to Vietnam. Why did we select this restaurant out of numerous choices? Simply because it was ranked as one of the top 5 places to taste Bun Cha and was within walking distance from Hoan Keim Lake. Would love to try the one visited by Obama (Bun Cha Houng Lien) for sure but it was out of the way.
Nonetheless, Bun Cha here didn't disappoint with an appealing fragrance on the grilled meat, that matched well with garlic and the slightly sweet soup. The portion was big and we only ordered two sets for sharing. The place was quite cramped (similar to all other stores in Vietnam), and be expected to queue or share your table with other customers if you come during peak hours.
Each set costs 120,000 VND and it comes with vermicelli, grilled pork, spring rolls and veggies. I love how generous they were with the portion.
Please try the spring rolls. Very yummy.
Artisee Cafe
Address: 21 Nhà Thờ, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Opening hours: 7am to 11pm daily
This Korea-based cafe will serve as a good option if you are craving for Western cuisine. However, I do recommend everyone to seize every opportunity to try local food until you are looking for something different to please your palate!
Free appetizer.
Shrimp pasta. Apology as I couldn't remember the full name.
Truffle mushroom pasta.
Vongole Pasta.
Earl Grey chiffon cake. Very light and fluffy.
Address: Multiple branches across the country. We went to the one near our homestay at 32 Dien Bien Phu, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam.
Opening Hours: 7.30am to 11.30pm daily
Probably my favourite cafe in Vietnam so far. Totally in love with the rustic old-school ambiance. While we were waiting for our takeaway order to be ready, I managed to tour around and snap some good photos. Suggest coming early in the morning to avoid the crowd. :) It will be a good place to chill after your visit to St. Joseph's Cathedral, which is located opposite to the cafe.
My typical kind of "acting" photo.
Love the rustic vibe of this cafe so much!
Gorgeous view from the second floor. A great start for the morning.
Signature coffee with coconut milk. Surprisingly pleasant.
Xoi Yen
Address: 35B Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam.
Opening hours: 4am to 11.30pm daily
It was recommended by my Vietnamese friend, and thus the quality is guaranteed? At least we saw a lot of locals around and I guess it's a well-liked place among the locals. However, I have to warn you that you may not like the environment (slightly dirty) or the food (if you do not like sticky rice). Xoi actually means a dish made from glutinous rice, for your information.
Address: 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Opening hours: 7am to 10pm daily
How dare you say that you visited Hanoi before without trying the authentic egg coffee at Cafe Giang? After filling your stomach with Xoi, it's time to proceed to the Cafe Giang next door for some good coffee. While you may imagine cracking a raw egg into your coffee, rest assured, it's not similar to what you have in your mind.
The eggs were beaten into mousse-like mixtures before being layered on top of the coffee. The taste was surprisingly pleasant, in fact, it tasted like custard-based dessert especially if you order the version with chocolate powder. All my friends enjoyed the coffee very much despite being extremely skeptical in the beginning.
Again, as the cafe is highly popular among tourists, it can be crowded and chaotic. Just get the seats first and order at the counter if you sit at the first floor or order with any waiter/waitress if you are at the second level.
Egg coffee with chocolate (30,000 VND each).
Lastly, a few photos to wrap up our short stay in Hanoi :) Next up will be our Sapa experience!
St. Joseph's Cathedral.
Hoan Keim Lake. It was a gloomy day.
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