Hanoi was chaotic, but a lot of fun! The food is fantastic, cheap, and plentiful – and so is the beer! What more could you ask for? You can also ask for an egg coffee. It adds creaminess to the coffee that is quite addicting. Don’t miss this when you visit Vietnam’s capital.

There are several museums in the city that provide an interesting overview of the country’s ancient and modern history. Even with the strong communist bias, it is still very interesting and informative. Some of these include the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Fine Arts Museum.

Another area that you can’t miss is the Old Quarter of the city. Even though it’s packed with people and motos, that’s half the fun! It’s full of local markets, great eateries, and cheap beer. We stayed in a hostel/hotel near to this area. For my fellow backpackers, you’ll notice that many accommodations are called “hostels,”but they’re more like hotels. They are really nice and often have great service, but realize it may not have the typical social atmosphere of other hostels.

From Hanoi we head to Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba is one of the largest island in Ha Long Bay, and is a great spot to grab a tour of the bay. Onward and forward!

Cheers, Shawn

Asia Trip – Early 2016