Viet Nam

January 2026

Things to Know:

Cash: you will need it. I exchange at airport, hotels, or the random tour booking shops in old quarter. Look for about a 25/26 exchange rate. Crisp bills are better

Apps: Wechat, Grab (uber/uber eats), google translate, google maps, and Bounce (Luggage Storage)

Bottled water: though I did drink some ice and iced coffee and im still living so…

Ha Long Bay “Luxury” Boat Tour

Tour Stops

Pearl Museum

Ti Top Island

Luon Cave, Ha Long Bay

Sung Sot Cave

Hanoi

Train Street

Look up the time tables before you go if you want to see a train. We missed that. Sometimes-someone has to “invite” you to their shop in order to go there. So just follow whatever random person comes up to you or book a reservation.

Hanoi Sky

Out of the way so skipapple but if you are near it its fun.

There is also a great currency exchange in the basement of this mall

Night Market

Old quarter streets get blocked off you walk around look at things and shop. Busy but I loved it!

Puro

This is where all the girlies were taking more pics than they ate. We just wanted sushi and it was right here but vibes were excellent

Thuc Don Hoi

Cute Rooftop Bar, good food. prob need a reservation for dinner cause the place is small

Imperial Cidadel of Thang Long

Flag Tower, Gardens, Exhibits, Bunkers, archeology. Cash needed for ticket.

Bahn Mi 17

It was fine. I was already sick and this didn’t help so maybe I need to try again.

BARBAK

I needed a glass of crisp white wine and they delivered. Not at all authentic.

Bac Ninh

Yakimono

Pretty Good, was my first KBBQ experiece.

Can walk there.

Plush Massage

All Cash. Legit place with people who know what they are doing. Tip is required but listed seperate so all together was like $20 for my 90 min massage.