Plan: Hanoi —> Halong Bay —> Hanoi

We hopped around quite a bit in Vietnam. Starting out at a Sofitel in Hanoi, we visited the Women’s Museum, Hoa Lo Prison Memorial (Hanoi Hilton) Vietnam Military History Museum, Ho Chin Minh’s mausoleum, some local temples and the Thang Long Water Puppet Show. We drank a ton of coffee, ate at some incredible cafes (see “Where We Ate,” below), and even took a Hidden Hanoi cooking class which included a trip to the local market to choose our fresh ingredients. Next we had an overnight stay on a junk boat and had the incredible opportunity to view the most beautiful place on earth, Halong Bay. Upon returning to Hanoi, we stayed the next couple of nights at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and visited the underground bunker and the incredible pool. It’s important to be mindful of your words when in Vietnam, and to be especially respectful of the country’s history. Also note you’ll need a visa for entry into Vietnam. This is the company we used.