James Booth's 48 hours discovering Hanoi and Ninh Binh Vietnam

Arriving in Ninh Binh Province, James went to pagodas and visited famous places like Trang An and Bai Dinh. He added two days was not enough to explore these places, and it was "easy to get lost."

First night in Hanoi Vietnam

Just arrived in Hanoi, James stopped at a restaurant 20 minutes walk from the Old Quarter and ordered grilled chicken feet. The first time eating this dish, the male Australian tourist put a piece of chicken leg in his mouth and chewed the bone. His travel companion, Duncan Lu, a chef in Melbourne, instructs James to eat grilled chicken feet in a sipping manner rather than chewing each bite.
James used some more Western-friendly dishes, such as deep-fried fish. He commented that this dish is almost like fried chicken balls at a fast food restaurant. After a late-night meal, James moved to the hotel accommodation on Tu Hoa Street, Tay Ho, rested and prepared for the next day.

The second day discovering Hanoi Vietnam

James started his day with a cup of egg coffee in Giang Cafe. The cafe is no stranger to foreign visitors to Hanoi for the first time. He describes the shop as "hidden in the old quarter, occupying a small corner on Nguyen Huu Huan Street." He suggests tourists should use iced coffee when coming to Hanoi in the summer.
After drinking morning coffee like a local, James walks around the old town by Cyclo. He thinks traveling in the old town by cyclo is reasonable because it is difficult for foreigners to control motorbikes through crowded chessboard streets."

I realized that some streets here are associated with a traditional business. For example, Hang Bac Street specializes in manufacturing and selling jewelry, Hang Ma only sells decorations, and there are streets specializing in selling household appliances. Around Dong Xuan market, there are stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish," James said.
The male tourist added that many streets in the old quarter have shops selling locally designed clothes or imitations of big brands, even receiving suits for the same day. James said the local guide advised him to wait to order the vest immediately because the fabric and seams quality needed to be better.

In the afternoon, James plans to enjoy local specialties. "To eat bun cha spicy enough to blow away Birkenstock (a famous German fashion brand), you should stop at Huong Lien. It is where former President Barack Obama and the late chef Anthony Bourdain used to eat in 2016", James suggested the schedule.
He said that after four years, the restaurant kept the same prices and is known by many tourists. James chose the Obama combo, a unique bun cha consisting of grilled meat, vermicelli, seafood fried spring rolls, and a glass of beer, priced at 8 USD. He advises tourists to add less chili and pepper than the locals.
James plans to spend the afternoon drinking coffee on the train street. He knew this place through videos and photos shared on social networks. He looked forward to experiencing "the dizzying thrill of sitting and drinking coffee in a railway station and watching the train pass at a distance of less than 2 meters". However, James had to leave because the train street was closed for safety reasons.

Another person introduced me to access the train cafes, about a 10-minute walk from the main guarded entrance. Still, I did not enter because I feared getting into trouble. Not only me, but many tourists also regret just standing outside and taking pictures," said James.
Last evening in Hanoi, James spent time on Ta Hien Street, immersed in the bustling atmosphere. He ate Pho and sipped a few local drinks at random bars in the neighborhood. He describes, "The area is narrow but full of people; the seating is just plastic tables and rickety plastic chairs."
"Many bars have standing customers spilling onto the street. Anyone passing by can blend in with the crowd and the music blaring and beer cans in hand. If you like the hustle and bustle, you can visit the bars here," said James.

The third day discovering Ninh Binh Vietnam

From Hanoi, Australian tourists continue their journey to Ninh Binh Province. He said he had to try to forget the feeling of being hungover when sitting for 3 hours on a bus going through some potholes.
The first point James visited was Bai Dinh Pagoda. "Here, you can learn about the history of Vietnamese Buddhism, admire the giant Buddha statues, and stroll through the longest Arhat corridor in Southeast Asia. Then stop by a local restaurant and visit a local restaurant. Enjoy the rare lemon mountain goat meat", James introduced.

In the afternoon, male tourists move to Trang An, which many foreigners know. UNESCO recognizes this scenic complex as a world natural and cultural heritage. James knew this location through the media, and the movie Kong: Skull Island was filmed here. James took a boat down the river to explore many caves in the scenic complex and visit a few temples on the shore.
On the evening of the last day, James returned to Hanoi and stayed at the tallest hotel in the city. Here he ordered dinner in a private dining room, watching the whole Hanoi at night shimmering from above.