Northern Vietnam was unforgettable—misty Sapa, bustling Hanoi, stunning Ninh Binh, and amazing local food at every stop. Curious how to explore it all? Read my guide!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

December 22, 2022
Batangas, Philippines 23 degree Celsius nighttime

Date of Trip: December 03-December 12

This Northern Vietnam trip is comprised of Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa during winter. I went on a 10 day trip with my friends and had a blast!

You can view our sample itinerary in this Google sheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lvaf9lMZ8YzkUpCgH5FKcRO_M7LfM5ZOuj6lsaYB1o/edit?usp=sharing

Visa Requirements

As a member of ASEAN, Philippine passport holders could stay up to 14 days “visa free” in Vietnam. But before traveling to Vietnam, make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Flight Amount: PHP 14,858.77, travel tax which cost PHP1620 was already included in my flight ticket.

Hotel Accommodation:

Booked 3 Hotels in a 10 day trip – 2 hotels in Hanoi and 2 hotels in Sa Pa.

Hanoi Hotels

La Palm Hotel for 3D2N for PHP2,126.07/night = PHP 4,252.14
Ami Old Quarter Hotel for 5D4N PHP 1,856.45/night = PHP 7,425.8, I had to shell out the last night but the rest of the days I shared it with my friend, Tin.

Sa Pa Hotels

Pavi Home for 3D2N for PHP 1,509.39/night = PHP 3,018.78
Eden Boutique Hotel for 2D1N for PHP 1,958.13/night

Tour/Transportation:

Mode of transportation in Hanoi is cyclo/tuktuk for VND40,000/pax, better to book Grab or taxi arranged by the hotel

Mode of transportation in Sa Pa is taxi and electric jeepney for only VND50,000 for 2 persons.

Note: Be mentally prepared when crossing the streets of Vietnam since there are a lot of motorbikes and they can go pretty drastically fast

Language

Majority of Vietnamese speak little to no English, therefore, we needed to use Google translate most of the time. Even with the language barrier, the people were still very helpful and warm to us in understanding and helping when we’re lost in translation.

Weather

Northern Vietnam has four seasons a year – Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Spring is on Feb-April, Summer is May-July, Autumn is between Sept-Oct and winter is Nov – Jan. The weather in Hanoi when we reached was ranging from 18-13 degree Celsius while in Sa Pa was ranging from 10- 9 degree Celsius. It was winter time when we went.

Currency

The Vietnamese Dong is the country’s official currency. Because airport money changers give poor exchange rates and ATM withdrawals in Vietnam cost VND50,000 (or 3% of the amount withdrawn), I advise exchanging your PHP at a bank.Please be aware that most businesses in Northern Vietnam do not accept credit cards or other types of electronic payment. It is recommended that you inquire about any additional fees associated with using a credit card before making a purchase.

Internet Connection

Internet connectivity was not an issue in Northern Vietnam, as my two traveling companions had no issues with the data and WIFI connection while working remotely. I was quite impressed, even in the highlands of Sa Pa, with how well the connection worked.
Food

Already included in this blog.

Budget

PHP60,500 total budget for 10 days 9 nights tour.

Day 1 December 03, 2022 (Saturday)

Hanoi 18 degree Celcius

When my friend Arven told me he was going to spend 10 days in Hanoi, I was afraid to go along because I had no idea what to do there. The trip was planned as a 5-day adventure at first. Next, my buddy Tin who is working in Singapore mentioned Sa Pa, showed me a Google page of her itinerary, and ultimately encouraged me to accept a 10-day visit to Northern Vietnam.

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. Historic buildings and landmarks from the colonial era are still standing in the Old Quarter. There’s a steady stream of bikes, the weather is always perfect, the food is out of this world, and the coffee is the best I’ve ever had. Hanoi is a city I never thought I’d fall in love with.

Surprisingly, the airport wasn’t a complete madhouse on the morning of a Saturday flight I took. But then I had to wait an extra hour at NAIA Airport, where, as usual (haha), there were no open coffee shops.

Vietnam is one hour behind Philippine time, so when I arrived in Hanoi at 7:40 a.m., the temperature was 18 degrees. After clearing customs, I went straight to the exit to get a Mobifone sim card (with two weeks’ worth of unlimited data for 350,000VND). To have the SIM card activated, I had to provide my passport and airline ticket. After that, I reserved a Grab for the trip to the hotel at a cost of 380kVND.

Since I had arrived at the hotel before my check-in time, I had the opportunity to meet Arven, a fellow vlogger from Batangas.

9:00am – breakfast at Hanoi 1930 Bistro. I spent 125 thousand Vietnamese Dong on a plate of Bun Bo Nam Bo, or stir-fried beef noodles, and a cup of Vietnamese coffee. To put it simply, the Vietnamese coffee was the greatest coffee I’ve ever had. It’s brewed with robusta beans and condensed milk in a phin filter, and it has a bold, distinct flavor. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. It would take more than one blog article to do justice to Vietnam’s reputation as a culinary paradise.

11:00am – We went to Hoan Kiem Lake Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple. We had our picture taking. Entrance fees is at 30k VND, it is open every M-F 8am-5pm VN time

12:00pm – We hailed cyclo to go around Old Quarter but we were scammed. We paid 350k VND each for a 15min ride which only cost 80k VND originally for 2 persons! 😦

1:30pm –

Although we had hoped to eat on the stools in the street, I was turned off by the corner restaurant’s filthy restrooms; apparently all of the food is prepared inside, which strikes me as a major breach of basic hygiene. If you don’t know for sure that the area is clean, it’s not a good idea to consume street food there.

After the bad experience, we found a restaurant gem and ate lunch at Hoang Vietnamese Cuisine.I ordered Bun Cha (traditional Vietnamese pork) for 129k VND – caramelized pork meatballs, rice paper wrap, fresh vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and Vietnamese Nuoc Cham sauce. I also ordered 55k VND coconut Vietnamese coffee, 65k VND fried spring rolls, and 89K pho (Vietnamese soup). The Bun Cha, fried spring rolls (nem ran), and coconut Vietnamese coffee were my favorite dishes from this eatery. I adore the diversity of coffee in Hanoi, and I could go on and on about Vietnamese coffee throughout this blog. Ground pork, veggies, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles are used to make the fried spring rolls. They’re frequently served wrapped in lettuce and herbs, and you can add even more taste by dipping it in their special sauce, the nuoc cham, which was to die for!

2:30pm – Checked in at La Palm hotel, freshen up and rest
5:30pm – had egg coffee at Ca Bop, not my favorite egg coffee for 45k VND

6:30pm – stroll along Old Quarter, had picture taking with the balloons, we paid 50k VND to hold and take photo for 2.

7:00pm – Dinner at fancy Luc Thuy Restaurant & Lounge. This was an alfresco restaurant overlooking the lake so it’s really inviting. I ordered CƠM GÀ THIẾT BẢN or fried pork Vietnamese rice. It has huge serving. I liked the taste for 250k VND.

8:30pm – The epicenter of Hanoi’s nightlife is located on Ta Hien Beer Street. The best way to have a blast for those who enjoy drinking. Since I stepped into this street first, I knew I had to see it again before I left. In the streets, people perch on miniature plastic stools and drink booze. While I would not recommend eating in the beer street because they only cater greasy food, I would recommend getting high there. The Hanoi beer is my favorite since it’s so refreshing and cheap (just 30 thousand dong, which is about $1.

Day 2 December 04, 2022 (Sunday)

Ninh Binh, Vietnam private car- 2M for 2 persons
Bought Ao Dai and wore it for 350k VND
Hang Mua Cave entrance fee 45k VND
Tam Coc Lake – 250kVND tip 100k VND

This location, which once served as Vietnam’s capital, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its spectacular landscapes and limestone karst formations. This region is known as “Ha Long Bay on Land” because of the spectacular limestone mountains that rise out of the river valley and the rice paddies that look like a miniature Ha Long Bay. Visitors seeking adventure will not be disappointed by Ninh Binh. If you enjoy being outside, you may wish to extend your time in this area. We were only able to afford day vacations.

7:00am – Our hotel helped us arrange for a private car and driver to take us to Ninh Binh, which is about 2.5 hours outside of Hanoi. The price for two of us was 2 million VND. Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese national clothing, cost me 350 thousand dong, so I was really psyched about packing it for this trip.

9:50am – Our group was able to make it to Hang Mua Cave and pay the 45,000 Vietnamese Dong entrance fee. Although there was a lotus garden, the lotus blossoms wouldn’t appear until the following spring. It was worth the effort of climbing the 500 steps to see the beautiful view of the river winding its way through rice paddies and rugged limestone cliffs.

1:00pm – We ate at a nearby local restaurant in Tam Coc Lake
2:00pm – We took a boat excursion on Tam Coc Lake for 250 thousand Vietnamese Dong. The karst formation was beautiful, and the journey was relaxing. Definitely a memorable time. I really appreciated the peace and quiet that the lake and the scenery provided. It was amazing to see that the locals here also used their feet to propel the boats.

5:00pm – We finished the tour and went back to Hanoi to meet my friend, Tin, who was coming from Singapore.
7:30pm – had a meal at Cha Ca Tha Long, where I finally got to experience cha ca, a staple of Hanoian cuisine that dates back centuries. The finest examples are crafted from Hemibagrus (Cha Ca), a kind of mudfish also known as a snakehead fish. The fish is deboned, the meat is seasoned, wrapped in banana leaves, and roasted over coals. Any dish in Hanoi, but especially this one, is guaranteed to satisfy your appetite.

8:46pm – Had coffee at La Capo

9:30pm – Drink at beer street again to welcome Tin
11:00pm – Prepare to sleep for our Sa Pa trip the next day.

Day 3 December 05, 2022 (Monday)
Sa Pa, Vietnam
12 degree Celcius

To get to the mountainous region of Fansipan, we rode a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sa Pa. From Hanoi, our trip took 8 hours. When we got there, it was rather cloudy and cold, and Fansipan was closed for maintenance.

Sa Pa is a village in the stunning mountains of northern Vietnam, close to the country’s border with China. It is well-known for its picturesque rice terraces, pleasant mountain climate, and diverse population of indigenous peoples. There are four distinct times of year in Sa Pa. We picked winter since we know it will be chilly and we desperately wanted to see snow. While snow was not in the forecast, I would not recommend visiting Sapa in the winter because of the thick fog that blankets the entire valley.

6:00am – We booked a Grab ride to Sao Viet, which is the bus operator to Sa Pa.We were supposed to leave at 6:45 a.m., but it was changed to 7:30 a.m. Please keep in mind that there is no food allowed on the bus. They also provide you with plastic bags in which to wrap your shoes and offer you flipflops to wear inside the bus as well as flipflops to wear at stopovers. We had already booked an advance reservation online throughVIP Cabin Bus by Sao Viet for PHP 1824.59/pax back and forth.

The sleeper bus was great, and it was my first time riding one. There was a WIFI connection on board, and everyone had to take their shoes off. On the 8-hour ride, I slept through it all. The meal stop is when I woke up.
2:30pm – We arrived at Sa Pa to a 12 degree Celsius foggy weather and picked up by a private car arranged by Pavi hotel for us. Pavi homestay from the bus station is 25 mins away.
2:56pm – We arrived at Pavi homestay and we were welcomed by 2 adorable creatures a cat and a dog – I forgot their names haha!

7:00pm – Had dinner Salmon Sour Hot Pot. We were served at the hotel with freshly sliced ​salmon with the rich hotpot soup served with a variety of Sapa specialty vegetables. We cooked with noodles and vegetables and drank Saigon beer. The Salmon hot pot cost 600k VND. It was a bit pricey but good for the weather.

Day 4 December 06, 2022 (Tuesday)

Day tour – Cat Cat Village, Silver Waterfall, Moc Chau Tea Plantation

Amount of Private Driver and Car only– 1.2M VND for 2 people
Cat Cat Village motorbike ride – 40k/pax VND
Cat Cat Entrance Fees – 70k/pax VND for adults
Moc Chau Tea Plantation Entrance fees – 350k VND
Silver Waterfall – 40k VND

9:00am – landed at Cat Cat Village. From Pavi Homestay, you may get there in about 20 minutes by automobile. We had to pay a little charge to access the village, which was located two kilometers outside of central Sa Pa, and getting there required either a walk or a motorcycle ride. We attempted to walk, but the mud was too thick, so we rented a motorcycle with a driver instead.

Cat Cat Village can be found in Muong Hoa Valley, and it is well-known for its scenic location and rich H’mong heritage. Despite the widespread influence of other cultures, the region’s unique traditions have persisted.

9:20am – When I finally made it to the village itself, I was taken aback; I had no idea such a peaceful place existed. There are also many cafes where you can sit back and take in the picturesque scenery of the surrounding mountains and village. I suggest spending the night and taking advantage of their traditional Hmong attire rental service. We did not rent, but it would cost you 500k VND.

10:30am We had coffee and did some picture taking.

11:28 am – Ate at Nha Hang Anh Dung and tried their Thang co for 350k VND. For someone as food-curious as myself, a visit to Sapa isn’t complete unless I sample the unique flavor of this local specialty.
Thang Co is horse meat. It is a typical dish of the Mong ethnic community. Thang co is a soup made in a large pan. The primary ingredients include horse meat, bones, and internal organs, as well as botanical plants. Historically, the H’Mong could only travel on foot or by horseback. As a result of the abundance of horsemeat, the Thang Co meal became a traditional feast.

Although I enjoyed the flavorful broth, I wasn’t thrilled for the meat itself. It was too chewy for my palate. There are certainly better thang co eateries in the area, and I plan to try one the next time I’m in town.

1:00pm – We had VN coffee and snack at Le Gecko Cafe, after being dissatisfied with my thang co lunch, I went out and grabbed a banh mi. I spent 120kVND on it. We were running out of time to visit the Silver Waterfall, so I had to get the banh mi to go. The banh mi and coffee were excellent and a good price. I particularly appreciated the cafe’s layout, with its chairs facing out into the street so customers could watch the world go by as they sipped their coffee. You can also use a cashless payment method. Indeed, it’s something you should look into.

1:25pm – Arrived at Thac Bac/Silver Waterfall. We paid 40k VND entrance fees for this.

It’s a quick 5- to 15-minute climb up some quite steep steps. Although the steel-arched bridge at the top of the very steep stairs is the farthest point of entry, we were unable to make it there due to the dense fog.

Nevertheless, we still enjoyed the impressive view of the 200-meter high Thac Bac/silver waterfall.

2:11pm – We came upon these finely carved swings and tables while driving and stopped to look at them. There was no admission charge. I can’t recall the name of the location, but it was fogged in, so the photo appeared to have been taken in a photo studio haha.

2:45pm – We finally made it to O Long Tea Hill, just a little distance from Silver Waterfall. What made the experience so memorable for me was getting to observe the Akha tea pickers working in their traditional garb. We were also handed tea bags to use. Everything about the tea plantation is wonderful; I had a similar experience in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia, but it was much warmer there and there was a cafe on the premises there that wasn’t present in Sa Pa.

6:00pm – We arrived to the Pavi Homestay, where we showered, ate, and drank. We spent our last day at this homestay saying goodbye to the cats, especially the cat who had become my favorite cuddle partner.

Day 5 December 07, 2022 (Wednesday)
Checked out Pavi Homestay
Arranged Private Car going to next hotel Eden Boutique- 250K VND
DIY tour in Sapa Town Center – Sun Plaza, Sapa Church, Bamboo sticky rice (Com Lam)

9:11am – Last breakfast in Pavi Homestay, we ate Vietnamese pancake, it was stuffed with apples.

Farewells to the homestay were tinged with sadness but also sweetness. We would want to return in the warmer months when we can take use of the outside tents, movie projector, and campfire.

12:30pm – We checked out at the homestay and we were picked up by a car who will send us in Eden Boutique Hotel in Sapa Town.
2:00pm – Arrived at Eden Boutique Hotel, settled bills, rest and shower.
4:30pm – Took a late lunch break to sample the bamboo sticky rice (Com Lam) at Moment Romantic Restaurant. It’s a type of sticky rice that’s been cooked in bamboo and served with peanut or salt as a dip. Since the Philippines also has sticky rice and I love our version better, I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite food. When dipping, I much rather use sweetener or hot chocolate than salt. I would suggest giving it a shot once you get to Sa Pa, though. The sizzling duck we ordered was delicious, and so were other meals. Highly recommended due to excellent service and a fantastic atmosphere. We paid 300 thousand VND fo

5:47pm – Explored Sapa Town. We went first to Sun Plaza. Sun Plaza is a French architectural style building with a prime location right in the middle of the intersection.

6:30pm – We went to Sapa Church. (a Catholic church with a stone belltower). Sapa Stone Church is the misty town’s icon. This historic church, located in the heart of Sapa, was built by French settlers in the twentieth century.This church, inspired by French architectural style, is the sole remaining edifice in Sapa that retains the soul and beauty of Catholic architecture.

Sapa children followed us as we walked, imploring us to buy goods while carrying their infants on their backs despite the bitter cold. Seeing these children out on the street was heartbreaking. Still, we couldn’t help but give them money.

7:48am – Had snack at Bibi Express to try Sapa Town Coffee, pizza for tomorrow’s breakfast and cakes spent 200k VND.
9:00pm – Reached Eden Boutique via e-jeepney one of the mode transportations in Sapa, we can no longer walk because it was freezing outside.

Day 6 December 08, 2022 (Thursday)

Came back to Hanoi, Watched Thang Long Water Puppet Show for 250k VND inclusive of translation headset, The Note Coffee Shop, Met Vietnamese Restaurant, best pho in Hanoi PHỞ 10 LÝ QUỐC SƯ, Lotus Cafe for yoghurt coffee.

5:00am – Woke up to get ready for our bus ride back to Hanoi. The hotel already arranged a taxi to pick us up at 5:40am which only cost 50k VND for 2, so cheap! It was only 5-10minutes away via taxi ride to Sao Viet bus stop.
6:00am – Estimated time of Departure from Sapa
2:30pm – Reached Hanoi and checked in our hotel – AMI Old Quarter. Tin booked a balcony room but it turned out it wasn’t yet available so we were moved to a different room, it was spacious and clean so it was alright.
3:30pm – After freshening up, we went for our late lunch at Met Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegan. For its wide selection of authentic Hanoian cuisine, reasonable prices, and friendly service, this restaurant quickly became a favorite of ours. This is something you should definitely look into doing. Rice, spring rolls, and meat in a spicy stir-fry were on our order. It was quite tasty! The entire lunch cost us 320k VND.

4:30pm – Snack and coffee at The Note Coffee Shop The cafe where you can place your notes or any notes you like. The shop’s customers left behind heartfelt messages that will forever evoke fond memories. That’s fine as far as social media goes. What I went through was satisfactory enough. Not my go-to coffee establishment in Vietnam, but definitely worth a visit. The price of a cup of coffee ranged between 50 and 100 thousand Vietnamese Dong.

5:30pm – Watched the Thang Long Water Puppet Show. Tin was not able to accompany me because she had to work haha!

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is the best place to get a true taste of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, with its performances of traditional songs about agricultural harvests and mythical legends enacted by puppets in a pool of water. All of it was a beautiful performance. It’s recommended that you use the English-language headset translator because the entire show is in Vietnamese.

If you want to see a piece of the country’s cultural fabric, you should come here. The history of Vietnamese water puppetry may be traced back to the 11th century, when locals entertained themselves by performing in flooded rice fields while standing in water with puppets. I waited in line to buy a VIP ticket so I could be towards the front of the theater.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater features five performances each day of the week, with an additional performance on Sunday mornings.

The timings may vary but they are usually at 03:00 PM, 04:10 PM, 05:20 PM, 06:30 PM and 08:00 PM.

If you’re in Hanoi, this is definitely a must! 🙂

6:33pm – Dinner with my vlogger friend Arven at pho 10 ly quoc su, definitely the best pho I tasted in Hanoi! It is authentic and you can see how the pho is being prepared. It cost 55k VND.

7:00pm – Yoghurt Coffee at Lotus Blanc Coffee with balcony seating, their yoghurt coffee was so delicious, creamy and strong aroma of the beans. I’d go back in a heart beat.

9:50pm – Dinner at Hang Qua with Tin; I’d already eaten, so I mostly just tagged along and shared her banh mi. The cafe was extremely loud for me due of a staff party, although the owner did offer an apology. I wouldn’t advocate eating here even if it weren’t so loud. The bill for food and drinks came to 250 thousand dong.
10:30pm – Sleep for tomorrow’s activity

Day 7 December 09, 2022 (Friday)

Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise Depart from Ha Noi by Phoenix Cruiser for
₱ 2,729/pax inclusive of entrance fees and lunch only, Banh Mi 25, Ha Long Sapphire Beer and Sung Sot Cave

7:30am – Breakfast at Banh Mi 25. The banh mi there was so delicious; it was crisp and fresh. You’ll experience a symphony of tastes and sensations. Vietnamese cuisine is a unique blend of traditional French baking techniques and Asian flavors like coriander, pickles, chile, and fish sauce. Wrapped up in a piece of baguette that’s crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with the meat, pickles, and fresh seasonings mixed in. They credit the baguette’s distinctive flavor to the addition of coriander.

8:20am – We rushed back to hotel so the guide can pick us up
8:30am – The bus picked us up in the hotel for our Ha Long Bay Tour
10:00am – Arrived in Ha Long and checked how they cultivated the pearls and had snack nearby.
11:58am – Arrived almost lunch to do the cruise, our package included lunch in the boat, it was fine lunch. We also had a boat tour along the island for 5-10 minutes and it was so relaxing boat ride.

Ha Long Bay is a breathtaking seascape of limestone pillars located three hours outside of Hanoi. The bay is comprised of about 1,600 islands and islets. Most of the islands are deserted and untouched by human civilization because of their inaccessibility. The natural terrain varies greatly from large stretches of sandy beach to karst limestone formations that are thousands of years old. It was incredible to see the karst formations in person. The breathtaking panorama of Ha Long Bay was worth the 500-step climb I made to get there.

We continued our trip through emerald green waters dotted with dozens of craggy islands and islets, making stops at stunning caverns where tourists can explore and see impressive, centuries-old structures. Ha Long Bay has a supernatural allure.
In addition, we visited What the French have coined “Grotte des Surprises” (Surprise Grotto) for its extraordinary beauty. Sung Sot Cave is among Halong Bay’s largest and most stunning caverns. The mouth of the cave is only 25 meters above the water, and we climbed 50 stairs to get there. Stalactites and stalagmites embellish Sung Sot Cave, which is illuminated by rainbow lights strategically placed to highlight the cave’s natural architecture.

Ha Long Bay and Sung Sot Cave were two of the highlights of my trip to Vietnam. To see all of the islands and islets, I’d like to take the overnight trip.

8:00pm – We reached Hanoi and rested for our tour at 12:00pm tomorrow

Day 8 December 10, 2022 (Saturday)

Hanoi Half-Day Tour with Vietnam Army Legendary Jeep for PHP 2,532 per person, train street, Vietnamese bong, Hanoi’s nightlife – Beer street (Coco’s bar) and 1900 club cost 200k VND for entrance fee with beer, 100kVND for the funky balls inside 1900 (balloons filled with nitrous oxide)

12:30pm – Started our land tour, this tour was so relaxing and I truly enjoyed knowing Hanoi a little bit further.
1:00pm – We ate lunch at Hidden Gem Coffee, our tour guide Hannah was so informative
3:20pm – We went to the Vietnam market where I saw a dog meat and it’s head being sold for household, it’s a bit sad.
3:34pm – We headed to Train Street because it is a popular tourist destination. In the Philippines, we have train tracks as well. The equivalent in Hanoi was much cleaner, and there were cafes along the track. I had a great time, I’ve never been that eager to watch a train pass by before haha! I also enjoyed smoking thuoc lao or Brazilian tobacco in my Vietnamese bamboo bong. It is a powerful pipe tobacco that is smoked after a meal on an empty stomach to “aid in digestion” and is one of Vietnam’s oldest practices. Thuoc lao literally translates as “Laos drug.” People commonly use a bamboo bong to smoke. If you’re seeking for a new stimulant to get you high in Vietnam, pipe smoking, also known as thuoc lao, is the number one choice among the Vietnamese.I gave it a shot and was completely blown away! For a moment, my thoughts was frozen, and I coughed when I inhaled it since it was simply too strong for my lungs! hahaha I have many videos, but I couldn’t publish this one here right now. Please let me know if you plan to give it a shot! haha!

6:20pm – pampered ourselves with a mani pedi worth 250k VND at Cosmo Nail and Spa near our hotel
9:00pm – Met up with Arven’s friend and ate dinner at Hoang again, drunk at Beer Street at Coco’s Bar with PS I love you Cocktail – the cocktail has egg yolk in it and I loved everything about it.
10:00pm – We partied at 1900 Club, I tried their funky balls. To get high with funky balls (a balloon containing nitrous oxide), one must first inhale the gas before blowing into the balloon. Honestly, I didn’t recognize myself for maybe two minutes max. After that, I just felt like myself again.
11:00pm – We returned to Coco Bar for more drinks and sisha. Please be aware that around 12mn the police had arrived and told everyone to bring their tables back inside because drinking and partying in the street is illegal. Once the bar owners paid the police or they left, business resumed as usual.
2:00am – We went back to hotel

Day 9 December 11, 2022 (Sunday)
Tin’s flight back to Singapore, tried bamboo Vietnamese massage in La Belle Vie Spa Experience for ₱ 3526.4, Cafe Giang the first egg coffee in Hanoi for 36k VND, Hanoi’s night market

7:00am – Tin left hotel for her flight back toSG
10:00am – Cafe Giang in Hanoi was the first place I had egg coffee, and for 36 thousand Vietnamese Dong ($1.6), it was the tastiest egg coffee I’d ever had. The egg white foam topped the rich Vietnamese coffee like a fluffy cloud.

The traditional method of making egg coffee, which was invented by Nguyen Giang in the 1940s when fresh milk was scarce, entails brewing strong coffee and then topping it with a sweet topping made of whisked chicken egg yolk, Vietnamese coffee powder, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cheese.

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10:30am – Spa time, it was so relaxing trying Vietnamese traditional massage
2:00pm – went back to hotel and sleep
7:15pm – Had dinner with friends at Luc Thuy, tried ice cream on the street and night market

10:00pm – Came back to hotel and drank beer and order Lotteria chicken (more breading in the skin)

Day 10 December 12, 2022 (Monday)
Flight back to Philippines

6:00am – the hotel booked a taxi for 250k VND going to the airport
8:25am – Flight back to the Philippines

Although I enjoy solitary travel and being on my own, nothing surpasses the company of friends while traveling. This was supposed to be a shorter trip, but after doing some research and following my friends’ thorough schedule, I couldn’t pass up other parts of Northern Vietnam. I never expected to adore Vietnam so much – it’s a gastronomical wonderland! I’ve met so many individuals on this journey! I adore Vietnam, its people, and its weather. I intend to return, but first visit the south before heading to Cambodia. Come with me? haha:P

Love,
Maria, sometimes, Niskie