K M Cheng-Travel Journal: Vietnam (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 3 - My 20 days in Hanoi, Sapa, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc, Hue, Danang & Hoi An, Vietnam) Feb 5

" The universe is so big. In free & easy travelling, you can't be everything everywhere all at once. You bound to win some & you lose some. That is LIFE "

One for the album - my travel buddies (my wife, Thompson Tham + wife & K F Wong) - thank you all for the wonderful time we spent together in this 20 days free & easy exciting trip (simple & no frills) to Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc) & Central Vietnam (Hue, Danang & Hoi An) ! No major hiccups in this Vietnam visit during the winter month of Feb 2023 (thanks to Vietnamese tourism, service & transport industry which are tourist-friendly & efficient) & our group was able to visit the major highlights as planned ! Another chapter of my travel to Vietnam accomplished & a happy outcome ! But I should mention that the biggest challenge was crossing the streets & main roads of major cities in Vietnam due to the sheer number of motor bikers zooming & zig zagging on the roads, day & night ! It really require some skills & courage for older folk like me to cross the streets !

My last visit to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Catba Island was in May 2007 (a lapse of 16 years) & in Jan 2014, I visited Ho Chi Minh, Hue, Danang & Hoi An - so a bit of a down the memory lane visit for me to greet & yell a Good Morning Vietnam one more time as soon as I land in Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, accompanying by my wife & 3 travel buddies ! For sure, time really flies !

Vietnam currently has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To date, I had visited 5 of them. For this 20 day Vietnam trip, I had the opportunity of visiting (including re-visit) 1) Imperial Citadel of Thang Long 2) Complex of Hue Monuments 3) Hoi An Ancient Town & 4) Trang An Landscape Complex. Perhaps I should make another visit come early 2024 (if I am still fit & able) to visit My Son Sanctuary, Halong Bay (I skipped this trip), Dalat, Nha Trang & say hello to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) one more time !

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (visited Feb 2023)
Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (yet to visit)
Complex of Hue Monuments (visited Jan 2014 & Feb 2023)
Halong Bay (visited May 2007)
Hoi An Ancient Town (visited Jan 2014 & Feb 2023)
My Son Sanctuary (yet to visit)
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (yet to visit)
Trang An Landscape Complex (visited Feb 2023)

DHC Marina, Danang

Mua Cave, Ninh Binh

Chua Ling Ung Temple
Ba Na Hills, Danang

Sun World Ba Na Hills Resort
Danang, Vietnam

My travel itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Hanoi > SAPA > Lao Cai > Hanoi > Haiphong > Tam Coc > Ninh Binh > Hue > Danang > Hoi An > Danang > Kuala Lumpur (Home Sweet Home)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia >
Hanoi, Vietnam (approx 2,798km)

Hanoi > SAPA > Lao Cai >
Hanoi > Haiphong > Do Son Beach
> Haiphong > Tam Coc > Ninh Binh >
Hue > Danang > Hoi An > Danang
(approx 1,700km)

A summary of total expenses incurred (20days): Rm3,498 (US$795) per pax

Air Ticket (KL>Hanoi+Danang>KL): Rm730
Travel Insurance: Rm112
Hotel (17 nights): Rm642
Food: Rm568
Airport Bus (Hanoi): Rm10
Express Bus (SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong & Danang): Rm201
Taxi & Grab (Hue, Danang & Hoi An): Rm110
Cable Car (Fansipan): Rm185
Train (Lao Cai>Hanoi & Ninh Binh>Hue): Rm363
Entrance fee: Rm129
Sim Card: Rm49
Day Tour (Ninh Binh & Ba Na Hills): Rm395
Sundries: Rm4

Exchange rates: 10,000dong = Rm1.95; US$1 = Rm4.40

An update of my travel activity in February 2023 provided by Google Map ! For this February Vietnam trip, amazing to note that I had chalked up 52km (17 hours) of intermittent walking in 9 major cities / towns in Northern & Central Vietnam !

Travel Highlights (Hanoi, SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc, Hue, Danang & Hoi An):

1) Hanoi, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (2 nights): Rm240 (US$55) per pax

Hotel (2 nights): Rm87 (US$20, twin sharing) per pax
Airport Bus (Hanoi): 50,000dong (Rm9.75)
Food: 379,000dong (Rm74) per pax
Entrance fee: 100,000dong (Rm19.50)
Sim Card: 250,000dong (Rm49)

Temple of Literature, Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi

Presidential Palace, Hanoi

One-Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi

Hanoi Night Market

Hanoi City Centre

2) SAPA, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (3 nights): Rm558 (US$127) per pax

Hotel (3 nights): Rm147 (twin sharing) per pax
Bus (Hanoi > SAPA): Rm78
Cable car (Fansipan): 950,000 dong (Rm185)
Entrance fee (Cat Cat Village): 150,000 (Rm29.20)
Bike: 60,000dong (Rm11.70)
Taxi: 20,000dong (Rm3.90)
Food: 517,500dong (Rm101) per pax
Sundries: 10,000dong (Rm1.95)

Fansipan Legend

Trinh Pagoda, Fansipan

Stoned Church, SAPA

SAPA Town

SAPA Square

Cat Cat Village, SAPA

3) Lao Cai, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (2 days): Rm108 (US$25) per pax

Hotel (1 night): Rm25 (twin sharing) per pax
Bus (SAPA > Lao Cai): 40,000 dong (Rm7.80)
Grab (5 rides): 85,000 dong (Rm17) per pax
Food: 298,000 dong (Rm58) per pax

Lao Cai International Border Gate

Den Mau, Lao Cai

4) Hanoi, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm328 (US$75) per pax

Hotel (2 nights): Rm92 per pax (twin sharing)
Food: 273,000 dong (Rm53)
Train (Lao Cai > Hanoi): Rm153
Taxi: Rm18 per pax
Entrance fee: 60,000dong (Rm11.70)

Phung Hung Mural Street, Hanoi

Hoa Lo Prison Historic Relic, Hanoi

West Lake, Hanoi

Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi

Ngoc Son Temple, Hanoi

Beer Street, Hanoi

5) Haiphong, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm171 per pax

Hotel (2 nights):Rm78 per pax (twin sharing)
Bus (Hanoi>Haiphong): 11,000 dong (Rm21)
Food: 240,000dong (Rm46.80)
Taxi: 40,000 dong (Rm7.80) per pax
Bus: 90,000 dong (Rm17.50)

General Le Chan Statute
Haiphong, Vietnam

Le Chan Temple, Haiphong, Vietnam

6) Tam Coc, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm381 (US$87) per pax

Hotel (2 nights): Rm62 per pax (twin sharing)
Bus (Haiphong > Tam Coc): 300,000 dong (Rm58)
Package tour (Ninh Binh): 990,000dong (Rm193)
Food: 318,000 dong (Rm62) per pax
Taxi (4 seater): 30,000 (Rm6) per pax

Tam Coc Boat Ride
Tam Coc-Bich Dong-Ninh Binh

Bai Dinh Pagoda
Tam Coc

Lying Dragon Top
Mua Cave, Tam Coc

7) Hue, Vietnam

Total expenses incurred (3 days 2 nights): Rm429 (US$98) per pax

Train ticket (Ninh Binh > Hue): Rm210
Hotels (2 nights): Rm70
Grab car (4 seater): 500,000dong@125,000 (Rm24) per pax
Entrance fees: 150,000dong (Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh) + 200,000dong (Hue Imperial City = 350,000dong (Rm68.25)
Food: 294,000dong (Rm57) per pax