Hanoi & Ninh Binh
I visited Hanoi in the end of 2023 on a visa run from Indonesia.
I’m not a city person but Hanoi definitely has a specific charm. It’s a mix of old European architecture (from the French) and chaotic Asian vibes. It has an artsy vibe, and the food is amazing.
I also spent a few days around Ninh Binn - an area with beautiful limestone cliffs, rice fields and small villages.
I took the train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. I really enjoyed my time there. Apart from the tourist spots, it was very calm, and the nature was amazing. I rented a bicycle and spent my time cycling around the rice fields and limestone formations.
It was December and the north of Vietnam was chilly - around 15C - that was quite cold for me, coming from the 30C of Bali.
The local food was simple, tasty and cosy.
Afterwards I returned to Hanoi for a few days. It’s chaotic and noisy (like all big Asian cities) but I enjoyed the artsy vibe, the cool cafes, and the amazing food of course. It was easy to find vegetarian versions of everything.