Vietnam has incredible and unforgettable food. While in Hanoi, our favorite meal was the Bun Cha Obama at Bun Cha Huong Lien. Bun Cha Huong Lien became an international sensation after famous chef Anthony Bourdain and President Barack Obama shared a meal there. It is common for Vietnamese youth and families to enjoy meals in family restaurants like Bun Cha Huong Lien or grab a stool at a food stall for small bites and a beer in the evening hours. Vietnam has several locally brewed beers, including our favorite Bia Na Da which is local to Ninh Binh. After a good meal and drink, it is common for locals to take leisurely strolls or chat with neighbors on the narrow and lantern-lit streets.

Beer Street

Beer Street is the heart of Hanoi's nightlife. It is bustling with locals and tourists alike looking for late night bites and cheap drinks!

Train Street

As the name suggests, Train Street is where a few trains run right through the bustling streets of Hanoi. Train tracks separate a few cafes and homes in some of the most populated areas of Hanoi. While currently a major tourist area with restricted access due to the risk of injury, the famed Train Street used to be a place where regular (and often poor) people sat on the tracks to cook, wash their hair, or read a newspaper until a train would come flying through the street.

Chaos would ensue as the people retreated to safety for those few minutes. To experience the trains in close proximity and without a safety barrier, we visited a cafe.

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is a beautiful temple built to honor Confucius. It is also regarded as Vietnam’s first national university. Normally a peaceful place to visit, the Temple of Literature was very lively during our visit. It was graduation day for the small children. The young graduates donned their graduation robes and traditional clothes. High school students were also at the temple, fervently praying, ahead of their national examinations.

The Handicraft Villages

While in Hanoi, you can schedule tours to visit various villages specializing in crafts. Visitors can learn from families how to create incense sticks, laquer paintings and even how to make the conical hat that have perfected the craft for generations.

Cerender

Cerender is a shop that sells quirky handmade ceramics made in Bat Trang Ceramic Village, one of many handicraft villages near Hanoi. We left with a few whale-shaped chopstick holders.

Temples

Mural Street

Hanoi also has vibrant street art scene.

Trang An Scenic Complex

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site near Ninh Binh. The Complex is known for its impressive limestone mountains, caves, and scenic waterways. After getting our boat ticket, we chose which of the three boat routes we would take. We took Route 2 to go through the two longest caves. We also saw where some of a King Kong movie was filmed on this route. The boat drivers carried us masterfully along the route despite the caves' limited space. They have incredible strength and stamina! Although it drizzled throughout our ride, the fog and rain added to the ambiance. The Trang An boat ride was an overall unforgettable experience!

Hang Mua Caves

Popular spots in Ninh Binh include the Hang Mua Caves. The Hang Mua caves are well-known for its steep 500 step hike to the Dragon Viewpoint. The viewpoint, approximately 88 meters high, provides a breathtaking view of Ninh Binh’s endless rice fields, towering karst mountains and Tam Coc's Ngo Dong River.