Accommodations

There are dozens of companies you can cruise with on Halong Bay, but we decided to go with Bhaya, due to its stellar reviews. You can choose from a variety of different options, but we went with one cabin private boat, for three days and two nights. We had our own private deck, dining room, cabin and bathroom complete with a bathtub and our own crew. It was pretty magnificent! The food provided by the chef on board was also exceptional. For breakfast, we had a massive spread of noodles, eggs, fruit, yogurt, pastries, cheese, fresh-squeezed juice, and coffee.

The Food

At lunch, we had a three-course meal, complete with soup and dessert. Dinner was another impressive array of items like vegetables in Vietnamese curry, pho, pumpkin soup, papaya salad, fried tofu, spring rolls, fried rice, and noodles. We were never able to finish everything! In addition, our butler Michael (who was the most amazing) served fresh juice or lemonade after every activity. Drinks such as Halong beer are always available for purchase. My favorite time of day was at sunset, when we indulged in happy hour beverages and snacks while enjoying the stunning sunset from the deck after a day of activities in Halong Bay.

Activities

On our cruise of Halong Bay, we were provided with a list of optional activities. Here are my recommendations:

Kayaking: The bay is absolutely stunning, and there is nothing like being so close to the water. With Bhaya, a staff member will come with you so even if you are a novice kayaker there is nothing to worry about. We kayaked twice during our trip and it was a great way to do something active, get up close to the islands, and stop off at random small beaches for swimming and sunbathing.

Cat Ba Island: Cat Ba is famous for its rainforest and small village, so I highly recommend making a stop while you are cruising. We chose to bike through the village which was super fun. As opposed to walking, where you will get really hot, you get a nice breeze by biking. We stopped for a beer at a local shop, visited a local school, and enjoyed the scenery. We hoped to see one of their famous langurs (monkeys) but sadly their numbers have dwindled.

Boat activities: With Bhaya, you can do on-board tai chi at sunrise, a cooking class (ours was making spring rolls!) and spa treatments. We did all three, although my husband skipped out on the tai chi.

Cruising on Halong Bay: The Verdict

Experiencing Halong Bay is a dream come true! Make it your next destination.

The post Living the dream: Cruising on Halong Bay appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

Where to Stay

We went to Hanoi both before and after a visit to Halong Bay, so I was lucky enough to stay in two different hotels while exploring Hanoi, Vietnam which are both lovely and offer two great options in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

O’Gallery Premier Hotel and Spa: This hotel is located close to all the sights you will want to see and shops you will want to peruse. The staff is exceptionally kind and the hotel offers great tours. We took advantage of the street food walking tour and the all-day city tour. There’s a spa on the bottom level which offers incredibly inexpensive spa services in a wonderful, zen atmosphere. Breakfast was included in our rate and featured a huge buffet with Vietnamese breakfast items as well as pastries, desserts and the most irresistible fresh juices.

Hanoi La Siesta Central Hotel and Spa: One of the more upscale hotels in town, this hotel has gorgeous, spacious rooms and bathrooms, as well as a stunning rooftop bar and restaurant. Staff is incredibly helpful and no request goes unheeded.

Where to Eat

There is literally no end to dining options in Hanoi. We simply did not have a bad meal while exploring Hanoi, Vietnam. However, the plethora of choices can be overwhelming, so here are a few of the gems we visited to get you started!

Food on Foot Tour: As soon as we arrived in Hanoi, we checked into our hotel and then embarked on this epic food tour. A food tour is one of the best ways to exploring this awesome city! We visited no less than eight venues, some small, some big but each more delicious than the last. At the first family-run food stall, we indulged in rice pancakes. These banh cuon chay were made with thin, steamed rice pancakes stuffed with mushrooms and topped with crispy fried onions. Normally eaten for breakfast, these pancakes hit the spot.

Next was a pho noodle salad at a place called Hang Chi Alley, followed by bun nem chay, a vermicelli noodle salad with fried spring rolls. Bun means rice vermicelli, we learned, and it is one of the most popular noodles in Vietnam. We then went to a venue where we made our own wraps, mine with a fried mung bean pancake called banh khoai (similar to banh xeo) and goodies like dried figs, pineapple, greens and mint.

From there, we sampled the famous Vietnamese egg coffee (yes the coffee actually has egg in it!) at Nguyen Huu Huan and then went to another spot for delicious sticky rice with green beans and dried shallot. For dessert, we hit up Hang Bac for mango with cool, sweet coconut ice cream. It was, hands down, the best food tour I have ever experienced.

Ngon Village: This charming restaurant has an unlimited menu, which is a dream when you want to sample as much as you can during the short time you are in town! We stuffed ourselves with fresh and fried spring rolls, veggies soaked in a heady coconut milk broth, fried rice, noodles and more, all washed down with a cold bottle of wine.

Cinnamon: Small and cozy, this restaurant is perfect for a cozy date night. Order a chilled bottle of white wine or a local beer and treat yourself to one of their set menus, which comes with soup, spring rolls and a platter of half a dozen classic Vietnamese dishes like tofu in a savory tomato and onion sauce, pan-fried noodles, and stir-fried vegetables.

What to Do

There is so much!

Take a City Tour

While exploring Hanoi, Vietnam, try to go on a walking tour to learn more about the history of the city. We took a full day city tour, which was a great way to see all of the highlights of the city. From the tran quoc pagoda, built in the 6th century, to the gorgeous one pillar Buddhist pagoda to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum to the awe-inspiring Temple of Literature, we were utterly charmed by all the city has to offer. A stop at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology gave us the opportunity to learn about Vietnamese history and culture; it was incredible to discover that the country has over 50 distinct ethnicities and languages.

The tour also included a sobering but educational visit to the Ho Lan prison, where Vietnamese political prisoners were kept by French colonists. The same prison later housed American prisoners of war during the Vietnam war. It was a profoundly interesting place to visit.

Stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake

Located in the center of this city, this lake is beautiful to visit both during the day and in the evening. Take a walk around the lake, sit on a bench and people watch or grab a coffee at a lakeside café.

Visit the local Night Market

A night market experience is essential while exploring Hanoi, Vietnam. The market offers anything your heart could desire: street side dumplings, electronics, socks, umbrellas, jewelry, fresh-squeezed lemonade and everything else in the world. It’s crowded and chaotic but so much fun.

Get a massage

Spa services are available at massage parlors on every street and in every hotel. For as little as $20 you can receive a relaxing, soothing Vietnamese massage or facial. Don’t hold back – I got a massage every day that I was there.

Exploring Hanoi Vietnam: The Verdict

Hanoi is everything all at once: a city of 11 million people, half of whom are zooming around on motorbikes, a culinary wonder, a shopping center, a place of noise and activity 24 hours a day, a historical wonder, a Buddhist sanctuary. Soak it all it – it’s all so amazing!

The post Escapes: Exploring Hanoi, Vietnam appeared first on The Dining Traveler.