hayk

I know this question has been asked before but not specifically for the time of our visit, which I am aware is monsoon season. We are traveling to Vietnam for a week in the beginning of July and will spend a week in the Hanoi region. We like to try different foods, people watch, explore the city in a natural pace.

We have seen many mixed reviews about Ha Long Bay, and although it looks stunning, the travel doesn't seem ideal.

Would Ninh Binh or a countryside area be better for a day trip?

Thank You!

Kathie

Up to you. If I only had a week, I'd spend the whole week in Hanoi. Lots to see and do there, no need to leave the city, IMO.

live42day

I just returned this week from Vietnam. I liked Hanoi, didn't love it, but we did a two night cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay which was amazing. I know people who have done both Halong Bay and Bai tu long (in the same area) and Bai Tu long is much less crowded and no pollution.

In Hanoi we did a walking tour which was great, and the Woman's Museum was also a must do in my opinion.

live42day

I hit enter too early. We also did a couple of days in Ninh BInh and there were people there on day trips from Hanoi. It is gorgeous and we loved that as well. Halong on land. I would do one or the other.

crellston

There are some details and photos from our time in Hanoi and our travels in the rest of of Vietnam on our blog at https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/ including our time in Ninh Binh. we loved the trek from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh but as it will be monsoon season, trekking is probably not a great idea in July. You could do an overnight trip and, pick the right operator and it could still be pretty special in Ninh Binh. Avoid ten hotels in the city and check out one of the" homestays" such as Nguyen Shack, in the vicinity.

Otherwise, there is plenty to keep you occupied in Hanoi itself, the food is amazing, I could probably let you have a list of some of our favourite places if you are interested. The Temple of Literature, The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and complex, Military museum, women's museums, Ethnicity Museaum

Halong Bay is a long, long way (c 4-5hours) and a pretty boring drive at that. Not worth it imo especially as the views are likely to be great at that time.

If you did want to get out of the city for a couple of days then Phnong Nha Caves near Dong Hoi may be worth considering. This is the place we will be staying at in June http://phong-nha-cave.com they have a terrific amount of info on the site and are very helpful.

CaliNurse

If I'm understanding c erectly, your entire time Vietnam will be based in the Hanoi area?
if so, definitely get out of Hanoi to see a non-city area for at least a day during your week. If you are talking just a day trip (i.e. leave and return from Hanoi on same day) then Ha Long is probably too much travel--4 hour bus trip each way, mostly along busy highway. However, I totally agree with Live42Day--IF you have time to do an overnight trip, and want to do a boat trip/mini cruise in beautiful scenery, in beautiful accommodations, with great food--check Indochina Junk company for one of their boats to Bai Tu Long Bay--an area near HaLong Bay, but much quieter. We saw no other boats, other than a single fishing boat, while there. They have both one and two night trips
I preferred Mai Chau area's lush hillsides and valleys to Ninh Binh, but either would be an interesting and beautiful, if long, day trip. If you can stay overnight, and choose Mai Chau, check out Mai Chau Ecolodge, for its bungalow type modern accommodation and paths for walking or biking through the nearby agricultural area. I wish I"d have had more than one night there. http://maichau.ecolodge.asia
nI Ninh Binh area ,i stayed at Nguyen Shacks and didnt care for it. I think it would be particularly uncomfortable in rainy season. I love small homestays, and would next time choose another in one of the area villages.

CaliNurse

Sorry, HayK--that should say, if understanding correclty, not c erectly!! Typos can be fun.

Southam

Do a Google search for cooking schools, a great way to learn more about Vietnamese culture as well as its food. Vietnam really does live to eat, especially on the street. Several places offer tours of street food, which require a little courage and a lot of curiosity. A hands-on morning in the teaching kitchen, eating the results for lunch, satisfies many hungers. It's good to choose one that starts in the local market purchasing the ingredients. By first-world standards, the fees are a great bargain.

UKmthr

Thanks to the above for those great suggestions. We have paid for our Hanoi hotel and can't cancel so won't do more than day trips out of the city. I am there for 6 days with our 16 year-old daughter. Any additional suggestions (the cooking course sounds great and we will have done all the 'must see' sights with a tour - the 6 days are added on to decompress and do 'slow' tourism) which might please a teenager, please?

crellston

Difficult to suggest anything without knowing what your "must see" sights include?

Unless your hotel is very expensive, I would give serious consideration to just leaving your main bags in Hanoi and pay for accommodation in say Mai Chau or Ninh Binh - both are possible with a day trip but not advisable. Choose the right palce to stay in either of those places and it is as slow as it gets!

The Perfume Pagoda is a worthwhile daytrip but I guess, these days, is likely to be very crowded.

Kathie

We did take a day trip to the Perfume Pagoda while we were in Hanoi - lovely scenery. We had our hotel arrange a car and driver for us.

UKmthr

Kathie and crellston, thank you - I will also look into the Perfume Pagoda.
Our itinerary says: "Tour of Hanoi includes the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh's home and Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Ethnographic Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake and old quarter. Water puppet show" - I think we do all of that in 1 1/2 days, so I plan to revisit any worthwhile sites.
I have also read that the Military and Women's museums are really good. Sadly, our hotel is too expensive/ my budget too tight to miss a night there! We will be at the end of a 13-day tour of Vietnam, staying in 5 different hotels and 1 ship in that time - hence my just wanting to chill in Hanoi (as much as July temperatures let us...)

crellston

You seem to have covered the main places in that tour. The Military and Women's museums are definitely worth visiting but do check the opening times as they used to closed between 12-14.00 and on Mondays but that may have changed.

A early morning stroll around Hoan Kiem lake to watch the ladies doing their Tai Chi is worth doing as is an evening stroll around the lake when the bridge and statues are illuminated.

UKmthr

Thank you for the opening hours warning, crellston - I'll check with the concierge of our hotel. We are both so excited to have some 'down time' in Hanoi after a whirlwind tour!

HappyTrvlr

Read Fodor's poster mr_go's Trip Report on Hanoi. It was very helpful to me when we visited.
We had a good experience on Halong Bay, not crowded, beautiful. Trip back and forth from Hanoi didn't have to see.

UKmthr

HappyTrvlr, I've found it - and it is indeed a worthwhile read - thank you. We do an overnight trip to Halong Bay while on our packed tour, so glad I don't have to contemplate the day trip alternative.

HappyTrvlr

I have such great memories of our time there. Phobis dold everywhere but we had it at Pho24 several times.

CounterClifton

We've been to various places in Southeast Asia but our last trip to Hanoi we both agreed it was our favourite place. We didn't even make it as far afield as Halong or Ninh Binh (planned to go to NB but didn't work out).

Just chiming in to say not to overlook some of the closer-in locations such as Chua Thay that aren't on every "top 10 Hanoi day trips" list. Interesting spot, beautiful temple in the rocks, no tourists when we were there (not sure if it attracts more at other times but we seemed to be a curiosity to the people who lived there). There is local version of the water puppet type show that's done in the lake by the temple, but couldn't tell you when they do it.