Hanoi

Dine with locals is a wonderful place to experience local food and local culture. Not only were we able to learn about cooking, we were able to learn the cultural difference between areas in Vietnam, and how that impacts food. The owners were helpful and had stellar English, very easy to follow and very informative. We even got a cake from the owner for our birthday! We can see the care and love that goes into this establishments craft and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Cảm ơn anh chị nhiều! ❤️❤️❤️

Since our hotel was far from the old town, we met in front of the Opera House. The sign said we were supposed to meet between 7:30 and 7:40, but I was apparently the last one to be picked up (other guests were picked up at the hotel), so they picked me up around 8:10. There were many other tour groups around, so I wondered how I would meet up with them. It was already past time, and I was worried I'd been left behind. When the medium-sized bus arrived, the tour guide got off and called out my name repeatedly, searching for me, and we were finally able to meet up. On the way there, we took breaks at a silk, cotton, and bamboo souvenir shop and a pearl souvenir shop. The trip took about three hours each way. The boat seats six people, and solo travelers like me were seated in a group of five. Naturally, the group was having so much fun that it felt like we were out of place... I wish they'd seated us in smaller groups. The cruise was packed with activities, including: 1) an onboard lunch buffet, 2) a two-hour cave exploration, 3) a one-hour mountain climb to the observation deck and beach stroll, 4) a one-hour boat or canoe ride, and 5) an onboard wine and fruit party. 4) Swimming was an option, but it was cold, around 15°C on the first half, so only three people, a British father and son, swam. Incidentally, canoeing is a two-person trip, so teamwork is essential, and you'll get wet and it seems like it would be physically draining, so it was a good decision not to choose it. The tour conductor, a Vietnamese man with a quirky English, was difficult to understand, but he was very cheerful and kind. (He attached a capybara stuffed toy to the end of a stick and called us Team Capybara.) The passengers were from various countries, but the tour conductor made it clear that everyone on the boat was family! They kept the group going, and there was an atmosphere where you could make friends if you wanted to. It wasn't many, but if you were lucky, you might even meet some Japanese people or foreigners who could speak Japanese. At the end of the tour, we took a 20-minute break at a service area on the highway. There weren't many restaurants open, but I had pho. The tour conductor and driver ate at a restaurant reserved for them. On the way back, they dropped me off at the Opera House first, so we arrived before 9pm. It was good value for money, and I was very satisfied and glad I participated.

A bunch of people were moving slowly, so I suggest queuing up early to check your luggage. But the VIP exit clearance is very fast, taking about 5 minutes to get through customs. Then you can leisurely browse the duty-free perfume shop (it's cheaper in the inner row than in Taiwan; Stronger with You Intensely 100ml is only a little over 2000 NTD). After you've bought your perfume, you'll have plenty of time to smoke or take a shower. I highly recommend this fast clearance option; it's a really great experience!

Overall, it was good. Our guide, Austin, handled every point very well. He was friendly and humorous. The buffet on board was just barely passable in terms of food and taste, but it was acceptable for the price. The overall experience felt a bit commercialized, which is understandable. For the canoeing, we chose the less strenuous option with 20 people per boat, and the boatman was very friendly and offered to take photos for us. The Surprise Cave was very crowded; we spent about an hour just queuing, but the wait was definitely worth it. The cave is a hidden gem, and the wonders of nature are truly breathtaking.