Where is the best place to book trips in Hanoi? (Halong bay day trip, perfume pagoda, Hanoi sightseeing)?

Question

Is there a central area, such as a backpackers area that books tours? and what are reasonable rates for the trips I mentioned? (i'm in town for 4 days so i am lookin for day trips)

Answer 1

There is the tourist center at the North end of Hoan Kiem Lake. It's the first floor of the four-story building that overlooks the lake, and pretty much the center of activities in the District. Someone there should be able to give you the information that you're looking for. Most who work there are fluent in English.

If you're backpacking through Vietnam, then you're probably up for a little more of an adventure. You could go to the bus station and take a bus to Haiphong and then to the tour boats through Ha Long Bay. You can also take a bus to the pagoda.

The pagoda is pretty much self-explanatory. Start climbing the stairs until you get to the top. Words cannot describe what you will see there. It's certainly worth the climb.

Ha Long Bay can be seen in one day and then back to Ha Noi by night, but I would suggest staying a night at Cat Ba Island and then take a jungle tour. This is not your typical nature trail hike, and you should be in decent condition (not fat) before taking the hike.

You really cannot see all that Ha Noi has to offer in just four days, because there are too many things to see. Taking a day to walk around Hoan Kiem District will give you a good feel of the city though. Do your best to get up at the crack of dawn and exercise with the Hanoians around Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a surreal experience seeing just about everyone in the city up that early in the morning.

If you're there on a Friday or Saturday night, then you need to go to the night market. It stretches down a street starting from near the tourist center to the bizzare market about a mile away. Everything you can possible imagine is sold there, and it's a lot of fun just to people watch.

If you can squeeze an extra day out of your stay in Ha Noi, then you should consider taking a boat tour on the Red River. The day trip will visit three or four pagodas as well as Bat Tran Village, which is the world famous ceramics village.

You have to go to Bia Toi Tiep (a.k.a. Bia Toilette) during one of the night that you're in Ha Noi. Despite it's slang name established by foreigners in the past, it is a very nice restaurant and drinking spot with it's own microbrewery. It's almost a tradition for any foreigner to visit Bia Toilette at least once while in Ha Noi.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 2

1. From Hanoi the best day trip is to Hanlong. Depart early around 7:00AM with 3h30' of the road. Embark the boat or junk for 4h trip on Bay. You can enjoy the lunch on board. back to Hanoi in the end of the afternoon.

2. The other day trip is to Hoa Lu. 2h of bus ride. Visits: Temple Dinh & Le, Tam Coc caves, b***h Dong grotte...

3. You can go to Ha tay to visit the Pagoda of Tay Phuong and Thay. Celebres scuptures on wood. Spend more time to Mong Phu village ( ancient houses ) and Mia Pagoda.

No 1 is the best one that you have to go. If have not enough time, go to No 3 and can drop the No 2