Hotels, In Hanoi we were very lucky and only stayed in two hotels. We flew to HCM first and did the tourist thing. There we stayed at the Kim Do Hotel. Pretty good and I would stay again. We stayed in Hanoi 1 night before traveling to Thanh Hoa to get our girl. That night we stayed in the Gaouman Hotel(spelling?) It was very very nice and ran around 175 for a triple. Breakfast was buffet of Asian and Western foods. Rooms very nice.
In Thanh Hoa we stayed in Sam Son on the coast at Van Chai Resort. All I will say it is like a little hidden paradise. They have a website but I cannot remember the address. I know you can google it. family Villa here on the beach was 70$ a night and the place was amazing.
The majority of our stay in Hanoi (16 days) we stayed at The Fortuna. It was right across the street from the US Embassy and around the corner from the consulate. It is a Korean or Japanese chain so caters to alot of businessmen from there. However it was a great hotel and the staff treated us wonderful. Buffet breakfast is the usual mix of western and Asian but good. They have three restaurants a Japanese sushi bar, did not eat there - expensive, a Chinese (wonderful) and a cafe in lobby (ok but Al fresco's is literally next door and same stuff. ) They also have a night club and bowling alley(yes I said that ) We had a triple it had room for three single beds, room for a crib and a good size bathroom. Housekeeping was great to us as was the restaurant and lobby staff. Internet is available in rooms and the business center had it for a fee. Laundry was expensive. A small market across the street provided cokes chips etc. and the Hapro down the street had diapers formula and pretty much anything else.
Hmmm things to do, of course shopping in the Old Quarter or anywhere else for that matter. Loads of parks with lakes you can walk around and relax or exercise. Temple of Literature(it was truly amazing) probably the #1 thing I would recommend to see. Museum of Ethnology is also great. It will take at least a half day to see properly and there is a nice cafe on grounds. Museum of Fine Art was nice and in an old French Municipal Building. traveling exhibit sucked but the pottery collection and exhibits on cultural arts and the people was on par with what we saw at the Museum of Ethnology. Hanoi Hilton Prison(Cannot remember actual name at the moment) Only a small portion is left but it is a moving experience, not just as US Soldiers were held there but to see what all happened at the hands of the French there. It is ugly but it is history. The memorial gardens they have at the site are very relaxing and a nice tribute. Vin Con Towers Mall. OK for a change of pace it is a fun place to go walk around and people watch. They have everything from Gucci and Versacci stores here to 5 and 10 discount places. Food court upstairs has a good selection also and the giant Citi Mart grocery store has tons and tons of stuff.Hoan Kim Lake. You just have to go it is great. People fishing exercise relaxing and yes the red bridge across the lake is a sight to see. A little temple sits on the island you cross to. We did spend a Sunday in the park at the Hanoi Zoo. Lets just say it is nothing like a zoo here but an adventure never the less. It is sort of a street fair, vendor, market, mini amusement park all around a lake. It was actually fun but Sundays is the day everyone gets out and just hangs out in the city so everywhere tends to be even more crowded that day. Oh and there is a skating rink at the zoo and it was fun to see all the kids skating to 1990s and 80s music .
Well I think I will post on shopping later
Enjoy
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