Beautiful Vietnam, great for photographer and a place to relax

North Vietnam Map
Hanoi City Map
For a Vietnam budget tour, my suggestion is either, 1. to pre-book hotel through Internet booking before travel, look for the cheapest local tour agent for your following agenda after settle down, or 2. Pre-arrange with the local tour agent in Hanoi through Internet booking, discuss and confirm your travel itinerary before your travel. I have chosen the later and it proved to be a hassle-free and time saving trip.
My Vietnam local tour agent is Apt Travel (email: salesapt1@gmail.com, website: http://apttravel.com/).

I took a night train from Hanoi to Lau Cai on this first day, in a comfortable air conditioned cabin with 4 soft beds.

Visited Bac Ha Sunday Morning Market and village of the Flower Hmong Ethnic People in the same day before travelled to Sapa.

Colourful Bac Ha Morning Market

Looking for souvenir?

Happy Bargaining

I spent a night in Royal View Hotel, Sapa. Had a 3 hours trekking to Cat Cat Village of Hmong People the next morning. The people over here are kind and there is no pressure to bargain with them if end up with no deal. Returned to Hanoi at night.

View from Royal View Hotel

Night scene, Sapa

Hmong People

Good place for photographing

amazing view at Sapa

Enjoyed a relaxing stay in the junk at Ha Long Bay for 2D1N. Best recommended to overnight in a junk instead of in a hotel. You will have a totally different experience. Ha Long Bay is one of the World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Over 2000 plus islands, 1000 plus are named. Swimming and Kayaking are fantastic ideas.

You jump, I jump

amazing scene

Kayaking at Ha Long Bay

Beautiful scenery, Ha Long Bay

Another good experience was to have an hour cycling from Hua Lu to Tam Coc. We passes through villages, paddy fields and rivers. Tam Coc is Ha Long Bay on Land. I was sun-tanned over here in a small boat. The paddlers are quite disturbing on nagging you to buy souvenir.

another good place for photo shooting

山羊, goat on mountain

Other sites worth going at Hanoi are Hoan Kiem Lake, Water Puppet show as well as shopping besides the lake. These is part of Old Quarter in Hanoi City, where you can find many hawker foods and souvenir shops. Most of the back packers stay here. Food worth trying: Banh Cuon (Chee Cheong Fan in Malaysia), Pho Ga (Chicken Noddle), Chicken Porridge, Grilled Fish and French Bread (Baguette). Looks for stalls with most people is the correct choice.

water puppet show

Pho Ga

Grilled fish

Chicken porridge

Bahn Cuon
Ho Chi Minh Museum is located around 20 mins walking distance from Platinum II Hotel. This Hotel is 3 Stars rated. Quite new. Equipped with free WiFi.

The time Ho Chi Minh passed away

Being a human means to love his fellowmen and oppressed people.

It also means to know how to bring Independence for his nation,

freedom and happiness to his people and help others in the world

to get out of misery Ho Chi Minh - 1950

Tips to you:

1. If you are short of time to have meal in town, you still can have

the local food at Hanoi, Noi Bai International Airport at cheap

price.

Go to 4th floor using lift. This will not lead you to the wrong place.

2. Airport tax at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport was not

required during my visit.