thursdaysd

Like Kathie, I'm a little puzzled by your travel agent problem. Hanoi, especially the old quarter, is loaded with travel agencies, and you can book trips like Tam Coc just a day in advance. And really, Hanoi is dead easy to do on your own.

ekscrunchy

I am embarrased to say that I used this US-based agent (got his name from a poster here) to book my flights within Asia and also my hotels. I did not sign up for any tours in BKK or in LP, but I did sign on for a private day tour within Hanoi and for one (also private) excursion from Hanoi, which has now been changed to Tam Coc from Perfume Pagoda..
(Also included in the total is the Halong Bay overnight; the drive from Hoi An to Hue; a one-day Hue tour; and all of the airport transfers)

I now realize that I should have done all of this myself. ("My name is ekscrunchy and I have used a travel agent!! A US travel agent!!&quot Of course, since I leave in 2 weeks I have now paid for everything in advance. Whew..that was difficult to admit!!

Femi

My name is Femi. I have also used a US based travel agent to book my trip.

Glad to get that off my chest

Ekscrunchy, you are not alone.

ekscrunchy

Thanks for making me laugh, Femi!

Kathie

I see, I didn't understand that you had booked and paid for a day trip out of Hanoi so it had to be decided before you go.

eks, I did get a chuckle from both you and Femi.

thursdaysd

eks and fermi - thanks for sharing (lol)! I am thursdaysd and I have traveled with a tour group....

Hanuman

For your reference only we also arranged for a guide while we were in Hanoi. A good English speaking guide charges $20 a day and a car with a driver cost us $50 a day while a van, big Ford or Mercedes 12 seaters, cost us $65 a day nett. Most of the restaurant that you will go to with your guide will provide the guide and driver with food for bringing them customers(you). You will have to pay the entrance fees to the various places separately but they are cheap or free if you're a local.

Just a thought, if the US based tour charges more why don't you cancel it and I can provide the contact information of the guide that we used.

Hanuman

ekscrunchy,

Here're some of my photo: http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/

Click "Hanoi" and enjoy!

ekscrunchy

Hanuman, I did enjoy! Very much! They give me a great idea of what the city is like..I particularly loved the pics of the puppets. (In fact they convinced me to go to a water puppet show which is not something I would normally even consider) I also enjoyed a few of your other albums including Lijiang and the Banyan Tree ones.

Thank you for the offer of the guide recommendation. The trouble is that I have already paid for the trip as a package and I doubt if I could get a refund at this late date. When I noticed a restaurant listed on the itinerary (for the Hanoi day tour) I called the TA and told him that I wanted to pick my own restaurants and to take the lunch off the itinerary...(the restaurant was Indochine and the Frommer guide says it is a tour group haunt at lunch)

Oh..here is one more question: Emperor restaurant..do you happen to know if this has closed?

You have been a great help..thanks again..less than two weeks now!!

Kathie

eks, a friend of mine was in Hanoi within the last year and Emperor was still open then. Emperor and Club L'Opera are owned by the same people, but we had much better food at Club L'Opera.

Hanuman

You're welcome ekscrunchy. We did not eat at the Emperor only at the Club L'Opera so I'm afraid I don't know if they are still open.

SaraJane

Hi there,
I live in Hanoi, been there for two years now. In my opinion Halong bay is nice, but be warned it may be chilly there in January. Perfume Pagoda, I think is disappointing, it takes a long time to get there and when you get there, not much to see.

Eating....never have I spent $250.
A fancy place to eat is Bobby Chins and Wild lotus and Wild rice, very upscale vietnamese places but not the high prices.

For Pho go on the street, just look for the restuarants that are loaded with people. You'll get great Pho for a buck. Also Bun Cha is good, pork meat, noodles a sweetened soup and greens, all for 20 vnd. The silk village is good if you are in the market for buying silk, to look it does get a bit boring, there are tons of silk shops in Hanoi, but you'll pay a little extra. And don't forget the lovely silver shops.
Have fun....

Sara-Jane

ekscrunchy

Thanks, SaraJane. I did nix the Perfume Pagoda and will do the trip to Tam Coc. Hopefully will not be abandoned by the rower after I decline to buy!

I know this is difficult to answer, but do you think I need to bring any clothing other than a cotton sweatshirt, cashmere cardigan, and light jacket for Hanoi and for the Halong Bay overnight?


Please post any other tips you can think of...and if you can, please offer an opinion on the restaurant Cha Ca La Vong..(I happened to see a television show about Hanoi eating that showed this place, along with the snake restaurants in Le Mat and a few pho places..the show was titled something like "Bizarre Foods" and was pretty silly but with good photos..)

Hanuman

I like Cha Ca La Vong and if you go try getting a window table on the second floor overlooking the street. A nice cold beer goes very well with the Cha Ca.

pkight

The ceramics village is also worth a half day. We rented a car and driver for about 5 hours for around $20 US and he drove us to Bat Trang, When you are there spend time walking the back streets of the village (same type village as Van Phuc). That's where you will see the ceramics being made and painted. Also, better buys than in the shops in Ha Noi.

We found a number of things in Van Phuc (silk village) that we didn't see in the shops in Ha Noi. Tammy bought several things to bring back to her friends as gifts. The thing about buying silk as gifts - they don't take much room in your bags.