Top 10 Must-Dos In Northern Vietnam
I will start with these 10 things so it's easier for you to experience an unseen Vietnam from the north to the south. Now, let's begin with the capital city - Hanoi and other attractive places in Northern Vietnam.
1. Get lost in Hanoi old quarter
Hanoi is one the most vibrant cities on earth, and yet at times it also feels like a small town. One of the most fun things to do when visiting Vietnam’s capital city is simply to walk the streets and get lost. Hanoi’s old quarter district, in particular, is a myriad of streets, stalls, and moving restaurants full street sellers, wandering tourists and full of character. Every street has its specific purpose, with every shop on the block selling the same thing. making shopping here one of the most fun experiences i’ve had to date. Take a walk down ‘underwear street’, ‘book street’ or ‘household appliances street’. Stop off to buy a pineapple, a fresh bread roll or something a little more daring. Whatever it is that you do, a few hours in the old quarter is good for the soul.
Top tip: Wait until the evening to get lost…that’s when the old town really comes alive.
2. Spend a night at a traditional homestay
One of the most unique things to do in Vietnam is to sign up to stay in a traditional Home Stay. You can go through a company like Asia Essence Tours or you can try arrange it yourself. For my Mai Chau homestay, I organised it through Asia Essence Tours, but for my Sapa homestay, I simply met a Hmong family when I got off the bus and they agree to take me to their village the next day. The experience is unlike anything else you will have backpacking around Southeast Asia. Seeing how the locals live, eating the food that they cook and just appreciating the beauty of the landscape with no interruptions was by far one of the highlights of my entire trip to Vietnam.
Top tip: Bring some warm clothes and extra socks, it can get quite cold at night time, especially is Sapa.
3. Get a lesson in fashion
The hill tribes of Vietnam are some of the most interesting people you will meet on your trip and their traditional dress alone is enough to make you smile. my friend Donna from Haute Culture Fashion has spent a lot of time with many of these tribes, learning about how they make their clothes and the tradition behind each piece. Spend a few days up North with the Hmong, Lu or Red Dao people and find out the answers to all your questions by booking a tour with Asia Essence Tours.
4. Learn how to ride a buffalo
I saw this advertised as part of many tours and local operated day trips but never got the chance to try it out myself. Learning to ride a buffalo is surely a great life skill, perfect for when you become a farmer and need to plough your fields! ;-) Or, heaven forbid, your horse is lame and you need alternative transportation! Places that offer this kind of activity include: Mai Chau, Sapa and Hoi An. Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg sees the value in riding a Buffalo!
5. Walk down Hanoi’s famous train street
This was one of my favourite finds in Hanoi, mainly because so few people know about it. Essentially there’s a very narrow residential street near the train station that an absolutely massive train passes through twice a day. And please trust me, this is one seriously unique experience that you cannot miss out on. It is sure to get your heart racing if you happen to visit at 3.30pm when the train passes by, and even at other times it is pretty much a photographers heaven. If you plan to travel Vietnam by train, be sure to book your ticket in advance!
Top tip: Get there 30 minutes before the train and expect the train to arrive early!
6. Overeat on a food tour of Hanoi
I’m not going to lie, I became so obsessed with Vietnamese food while travelling that I did not one but TWO food tours while in Hanoi and have ZERO REGRETS. While some people don’t want to part with $25 for a 4 hour Hanoi food on foot tour because you know you can get dinner for a dollar at the side of the street, I guarantee it’s worth the money. The guides are bursting with information about life in Vietnam, growing up here, food, cooking, and even just life and travel in general. They take you to cafes and restaurants you would not have dreamed going inside, and introduces you to food that your taste buds will never forget!
Top tip: Don’t eat lunch before an evening tour….you will eat enough to last you days!
7. Get grossed out at a rural food market
Rural markets in Vietnam are not for the faint of heart. You won’t recognise half of what’s for sale, and the huge chunks of raw meat, animal carcasses and bowls of blood are enough to turn anyone’s stomach. While it can be pretty upsetting to see things like dog on display, a long tradition here, is is a very unique thing to to do while in Vietnam and will certainly open your eyes to the way other people live, and eat. Just don’t visit if you’re already feeling queasy!
Top tip: Look but don’t eat would be my advice at some of these places.
8. Enjoy a glass of the world’s cheapest beer
Vietnam is home to the famous Bia Hoi beer, the cheapest glass of beer in the world. At just 20 cent a glass, nothing beats the feeling of drinking all night and being presented with a bill of about 2 dollars! The beer is brewed locally every day and then delivered to all the local bars. This means the beer is ridiculously fresh and with just 3% alcohol content, it’s a perfect drink on a hot summers day. Best tasted while sitting on a small plastic chair on street corner, such as Beer Corner in Hanoi but can be found all over the country if you look hard enough.
Top tip: Don’t drink too much of this stuff…the hangovers are killer!
9. Do a Vietnamese cooking class
Vietnamese food is some of the most delicious cuisine in the world so why not try your hand at cooking it yourself. Nearly all the major towns and cities offer full or half day cooking classes. From learning how to make traditional fresh spring rolls, to being brought to the market to pick out the right vegetables and herbs, Vietnamese cooking classes are a lot of fun and the best part of all is that you get to indulge in all the dished you have created. Think mouth watering Nem Lui, Hoi An pancakes and fresh Vietnamese Pho….all for you!
Top tip: Try book a morning class so you get to go to the market and help buy the food.
10. Jump off a boat in Halong Bay
Halong Bay, one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site, is best enjoyed from one of the many amazing boats that cruise around its waters. No matter whichever cruise you are on, take some time to jump off your boat into the warm waters of the bay. It will give you an entire new perspective of how tall those limestone cliffs are and just how many islands (1000’s…that’s right 1000’s!!) there are in this fascinating world wonder.
Top tip: Ask about safety and rocks before jumping!
Credit: Journalist on the run
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