Vietnam had been on my mind ever since I first visited the country in 2023, and returning for the second time felt like picking up an unfinished book. This time, it was different, I wasn’t travelling solo or with a friend instead I was traveling with 
We took a late night flight on February 18th at 11:30 PM from Chennai, with a layover at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. Just as we cleared security and settled near our departure gate, we got the notification that our flight was delayed by an hour. Not the best news when you're already running on excitement and a bit of exhaustion 🥲, but at least we weren’t rushing it.
We found a quiet spot, scrolled through our phones, and grabbed a quick bite while waiting. The airport was buzzing even at that hour, with travellers sprawled across chairs, some half asleep, others pacing around. Yugadi wasn’t too thrilled about the wait, but I saw it as just another part of the journey, after all, what’s a trip without a few unexpected delays ?
Eventually, we boarded, and after a 3 hour layover at Don Mueang, which gave us just enough time to stretch our legs and grab another quick bite, we caught our next flight to Hanoi. By the time we landed in Hanoi at 8:45 AM, the city welcomed us with an icy chill. Now, I absolutely love cold weather, but Yugadi ? Not so much! It was hilarious watching her struggle with the cold while I thrived in it 🫣.
Right after landing we cleared immigration which got done sooner than expected actually , picked up our luggage’s, withdrew some money from the ATM and got a Viettel Sim Card as well then we got out and grabbed a taxi via Grab, which is by far the most convenient and affordable way to get around in Vietnam. If you know how to ride a scooter, renting one is even cheaper than taking a cab, something we took full advantage of later in the day.
First Stop – Tran Quoc Pagoda
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Right Outside You Had People Selling These Koi Fishes, What I Didn't Know Was Is If They Were Being Sold For Your Home Aquarium Or For A Meal 😂
Our first destination was Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. Sitting on a small island on West Lake, the pagoda is over 1,500 years old 😨. It’s one of those places that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a different era altogether. The towering pagoda, bright red against the overcast sky, reflected beautifully in the calm lake. I immediately pulled out my DSLR and started clicking away shots of the architecture, the surroundings, and of course, plenty of pictures of Yugadi.
Inside the pagoda, I helped an Indian couple in taking some lovely pictures of themselves and in return, they took some great pictures of us. I love moments like this where you randomly connect with strangers and share a tiny slice of your travel experience together.
Checking Into Mad Monkey Hostel
After exploring Tran Quoc, we booked a GRAB Taxi to Mad Monkey Hostel, our stay for the next few days. We arrived way before the check-in time, which is usually around 1 PM or 2 PM in Vietnam. Since we couldn’t check in yet, we left our luggage in the waiting area, freshened up a bit and rented a scooter directly from the hostel (got a solid deal on it), and grabbed breakfast at the hostel’s bar/kitchen. I’ll cover the hostel experience in detail in another post, but for now, let’s just say it was the perfect backpacker friendly hostel that i’ve visited so far.
P.S Mad Monkey Is A Chain Hostel Brand and they are notoriously famous for having the wildest of parties all the time.
Saint Joseph’s Cathedral – A Gothic Beauty
Saint Joseph’s Cathedral – A Gothic Beauty
Fuelled up and ready to explore, we rode to St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Now, I had already covered all these places on my previous visit to Hanoi, but this time, I was showing Yugadi around, giving her a personalised tour of everything I had loved about the city.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral stands in stark contrast to the usual Vietnamese architecture. The moment you see it, you’re reminded of the Notre Dame in Paris, and for a good reason, it was built in the same Gothic style. Constructed in 1886, it’s one of the oldest churches in Hanoi. Massive twin bell towers, the stained glass windows, and the sheer presence of the place make it one of the most stunning spots in the city.
We wandered inside, taking in the peaceful atmosphere, and then headed right outside where there’s a Circle K store, the Vietnamese equivalent of 7-Eleven. I took Yugadi inside just to show her how amazing these convenience stores are. I personally love them ! they have everything you could possibly need, and their sandwiches and snacks are top-tier.
By the time we were done exploring, it was time to head back to the hostel for check-in. It was just a 6 minute ride away, and once we got our keys, we finally settled into our dormitory. We organised our stuff, rested for a while, and then geared up for an evening walk.
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
As the sun set, we rode over to Hoan Kiem Lake parked out scooter and went for a walk, one of the most peaceful spots in Hanoi. The air was crisp, the lights from the nearby buildings reflected beautifully on the water, and the atmosphere was just perfect. It was a great way to unwind after all the running around we had done since the morning.
In the middle of the lake is Ngoc Son Temple, which is connected by a bright red wooden bridge. It’s one of those postcard perfect spots that feel even more magical in person. The temple is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, a legendary Vietnamese military leader. At night, the entire place is lit up, creating this surreal glow over the water.
Walking across the bridge and stepping into the temple felt almost cinematic Haha. The intricate carvings, the statues, and the peaceful ambiance made it a great place to just pause and soak everything in. I took some pictures here, trying to capture how the temple looked after sunset, but honestly, pictures don’t do justice to how beautiful it really is plus it wasn’t easy capturing them with a f1.8 50mm lens.
Hanoi Train Street – The Thrill of Narrow Escapes
Hanoi Train Street – The Thrill of Narrow Escapes
From there, we headed to the different location of Hanoi Train Street. I had visited the old one on my previous trip, but this new one turned out to be even better. We went to Hanoi 1990 Cafe, which offers access to the tracks and a front row seat to watch the trains pass by.
The cafe had such a laid back vibe, the kind of place where you can just sit back with a beer, snack on something light, and wait for the thrill of a train rushing past inches away from you. You can even contact them on WhatsApp at +84-934050191 for train timings so you don’t waste hours waiting (Something I Wish I Had Known Last Time!)
I had a beer and a beef banh mi, while Yugadi, dealing with a persistent cough, stuck to tea. Despite not feeling her best, she absolutely loved the place. We stayed for about an hour, waiting for two trains, and the experience was phenomenal. The last time I was here (At A Different Side Of The Train Street), it was a mess 🙂 we had no idea when the train would come, no one gave us any proper information, and we ended up waiting five hours for a single train to pass. This time? Perfectly planned, perfectly timed.
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Beer Street & The Best Fried Chicken Ever
Beer Street & The Best Fried Chicken Ever
For dinner, we hit up Beer Street, a lively stretch packed with restaurants, bars, and of course, an endless supply of beer (They Aren’t Free 😂 But They Are Cheap). Since this was close to our hostel, I took Yugadi to the same place I had visited last time because they had the best fried chicken I had ever eaten.
Now, I don’t remember the name of the place, but my stomach sure does. I ordered my usual, while Yugadi, being a vegetarian, went for cheese sticks. Unfortunately, Hanoi’s food scene didn’t really sit well with her, Vietnamese cuisine is heavily meat based, and finding good vegetarian options that suited her palate was a challenge. I felt bad that she wasn’t enjoying the food as much as I was, but we made do with what we could find.
Wrapping Up Day 1
After dinner, we parked the scooter in the designated parking space, walked back to the hostel, and called it a day. Day 1 in Hanoi went exactly as planned packed with places to visit, good food (for me, at least), and some incredible experiences.
And This Was Just The Beginning
And This Was Just The Beginning
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