This was a trip with 3 friends — the same squad from the Philippines trip. Vietnam had been on the radar for a while, and we decided to pair it with Kuala Lumpur (that’s a separate post). We spent 5 days in northern Vietnam — Hanoi as the base, with day trips to Halong Bay and Ninh Binh.
Before You Go — Visa
For Indian passport holders, you need an e-visa for Vietnam. Apply online — it takes about 5 working days to process. Do it well before your trip.
Day 1 — Delhi → Hanoi
August 9–10, 2024
Our Vietnam Airlines flight left Delhi at 23:35 on August 9th. Smooth flight — they served a proper meal, which is always a plus on overnight flights. We landed in Hanoi at 5:30 AM local time on August 10th.
At the airport, we picked up our SIM cards — pre-booked from Klook for around ₹550 each. Quick and hassle-free.
Then we made our first mistake. Instead of booking a Grab to the city, we took a cab from outside the airport. The driver didn’t mention upfront that there’s an airport exit fee, and he was rude about it when we questioned. Lesson learned.
Tip: Always use Grab for airport pickups in Vietnam. It’s cheaper, the fare is fixed, and you avoid scammy drivers. Alternatively, there’s a bus to the Old Quarter — much cheaper, but they may not allow large suitcases.
We reached our Airbnb by around 10:00. The place was really nice, though the owner charged us extra for the early check-in. After freshening up, we rested for a few hours.
Afternoon — Train Street & Lotte Observation Deck
By 14:00 we were out. Grabbed some lunch and exchanged our US Dollars for Vietnamese Dong. We’d carried dollars since getting Dong in India is nearly impossible. In Hanoi, you can convert USD easily — even at regular general stores, not just official exchange places.
We headed to the famous Train Street — a narrow alley where a train passes just inches from the houses and cafés. We got lucky and actually saw a train come through. It’s a surreal experience.
Tip: Check the train timings before going. Trains don’t run very frequently, and showing up at the wrong time means you’ll just see an empty track.
Then we visited the Lotte Observation Deck (Hanoi Sky). Tickets pre-booked from Klook — around ₹750. Worth it — you get a 360° view of all of Hanoi from the top. We caught the sunset, which made it even better.
In the evening, we walked around the Old Quarter, explored the local market, and ate dinner there. The street food in Hanoi is incredible and dirt cheap.
Day 2 — Halong Bay Day Tour
August 11, 2024
Bus picked us up at 7:45 AM from near our Airbnb and drove us to Tuan Chau Harbor — about 3.5 hours away. From there, we boarded a cruise.
Lunch was served on the cruise — decent spread with seafood and Vietnamese dishes.
After lunch, the cruise took us to a kayaking point in Luon Cave. Paddling through the cave with limestone karsts towering on either side was incredible. Even if you’ve never kayaked, it’s easy and totally worth doing.
Then we had a short hike to Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave). It’s massive inside — stalactites and coloured lighting everywhere.
We ended the day watching the sunset at Ti Top Island. The cruise dropped us back at the harbor around 18:00, and the bus had us back in Hanoi by 21:00. Dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant (when you need a break from pho) and crashed.
The whole tour was booked for around ₹4,100 — includes bus pickup/drop from Hanoi, lunch on the cruise, kayaking, cave visit, and Ti Top Island.
Day 3 — Ninh Binh Day Tour
August 12, 2024
Another early morning — pickup at 7:30 AM. Booked the Best of Ninh Binh day tour from Klook for around ₹3,800.
Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel
First stop after a 2.5-hour drive. It’s the ancient capital of Vietnam — old temples set against limestone mountains. A peaceful, historical start to the day.
Trang An Complex
After a lunch stop, we headed to Trang An. This is where they shot scenes from King Kong: Skull Island, and you can see why. We took a boat ride through the karst landscape — winding through caves and past towering cliffs. The nature here is stunning.
Hang Mua Dragon Cave
The last stop. There’s a half-hour hike to the top — it’s steep but manageable. The view from the summit is absolutely worth the effort — you can see the entire Trang An valley with rice paddies and rivers snaking through the mountains.
We were back in Hanoi by around 20:00. Dinner at the same Indian restaurant (it was becoming our spot) and called it a night.
Day 4 — Hanoi City Day Tour
August 13, 2024
This was the history day. Booked a Hanoi city tour from Klook — around ₹2,200. Pickup at 7:30.
Here’s what we visited:
- Hanoi Opera House — Unfortunately closed, so just a drive-by. The building is beautiful from outside though.
- Tran Quoc Pagoda — A peaceful Buddhist temple on West Lake. One of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum — You can actually go inside and see the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh. It’s a solemn, reverent experience — no photography allowed inside.
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — A well-curated museum about the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. More interesting than it sounds.
- Lunch (included in the tour)
- Temple of Literature — Vietnam’s first university, built in 1070. Beautiful traditional architecture and gardens.
- Hanoi Prison (Hoa Lo Prison) — Also called the “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs. The exhibits cover both the French colonial prison era and the Vietnam War. Heavy but fascinating.
The tour was incredibly informative. All three day tours we did had excellent guides who clearly loved their city and its history. Lunch was included in every tour, which is a nice touch.
The tour ended around 16:30 at the Old Quarter. We did some souvenir shopping and had our last dinner in Hanoi.
Day 5 — Hanoi → Kuala Lumpur
August 14, 2024
Checked out around 10:00 AM, had a light breakfast, grabbed a cab to the airport. Our AirAsia flight was at 15:30 but got delayed — took off around 17:00. We landed in Kuala Lumpur at around 22:00.
The KL part of the trip is in a separate post.
What It Cost (Per Person)
Some of this is from memory, so treat it as a ballpark.
Tours (per person, booked on Klook)
| Tour | Cost |
|---|---|
| Halong Bay Day Tour | ~₹4,100 |
| Ninh Binh Day Tour | ~₹3,800 |
| Hanoi City Day Tour | ~₹2,200 |
| Lotte Observation Deck | ~₹750 |
| SIM Card (Klook) | ~₹550 |
Other Expenses (per person, approximate)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Airbnb (split 4 ways, 5 nights) | Varies |
| Cab from airport | Varies |
| Food (dinners + snacks) | ~₹2,000 |
| Shopping | Varies |
Note: Flight costs not included — we flew Vietnam Airlines (Delhi → Hanoi) and AirAsia (Hanoi → KL).
Things to Know Before You Go
- E-visa required for Indians — Apply online, takes about 5 working days. Don’t leave it to the last minute.
- Carry US Dollars — Vietnamese Dong is hard to get in India. USD converts easily in Hanoi — even at regular shops, not just exchange counters.
- Use Grab, not airport taxis — We got scammed by a regular cab on our first ride. Grab is reliable, fair-priced, and you avoid surprises.
- Book day tours on Klook — All three of our tours (Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Hanoi city) were excellent. Guides were informative, lunch was included, and pickup/drop from your hotel is standard.
- Check Train Street timings — Trains don’t run often. Look up the schedule before going so you actually see one.
- Halong Bay is doable as a day trip — You don’t need an overnight cruise. The day tour covers kayaking, caves, and an island — more than enough.
- Ninh Binh > Halong Bay (for me) — If I had to pick one, I’d pick Ninh Binh. The boat ride through Trang An and the Hang Mua hike were the most visually stunning parts of the trip.
- Hanoi street food is incredible — And very cheap. Don’t be afraid to eat from street stalls — that’s where the best food is.
Final Thoughts
Vietnam surprised me in the best way. Hanoi is chaotic — scooters everywhere, narrow alleys, and an energy that doesn’t stop. But once you lean into it, it’s one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.
The day tours were the highlight. Halong Bay was beautiful, but Ninh Binh stole the show — the boat ride and the Hang Mua viewpoint are genuinely breathtaking. The Hanoi city tour was the most educational, especially the prison and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
All three guides were knowledgeable and passionate. Lunch was included in every tour. And the whole thing was very affordable for what you get. Vietnam gives you serious bang for your buck.
Next stop was KL — read that here.
