Share the article
Southeast Asia is one of the most magnetic regions on Earthmaking it difficult to choose just one holiday destination from an abyss of choices where it’s hard to go wrong.
Put on the map by someone you would least expect to be a travel guide – former President Barack Obama – when he joined the much more famous globetrotter Anthony Bourdain for a cheap bowl of noodles on a rickety bar stool.
Before then, the capital of Vietnam was often confused with Ho Chi Minh City, formerly the capital of South Vietnam, but we save the boring stuff for war documents that only Grandpa enjoys.
Vietnam is now rising!
Whether it concerns heavenly beaches such as Da Nang or the bustling megacities Hanoiwhich is more popular than ever, the entire trip will be one for the books – not for your wallet, if anyone even carries one.
Hanoi radiates with culture, swirls with exotic aromas and is captivating from the jump like a motorbike-filled maze, unlike anywhere else at home. Hanoi is not only a great introduction to Vietnam, but it is also one of the most exciting cities in the country in its own right.
Yes, Hanoi is that postcard you’ve seen before
Scroll back to the top. See that train photo?
That’s the old quarter Train Street. Cleverly called, eh?
This iconic street is one of the most unique places in Asia, and perhaps on the planet.
While you are quietly sipping a very underrated Vietnamese coffee on a terrace, you suddenly hear a horn and feel the ground shaking, followed by every tourist who picks up their phone.
Then, just as quickly as calm sets in, a large train rushes down the narrow hallway, inches from your table, causing cups to rattle and hearts to race before disappearing as if it never happened.
Okay, that’s not it That chaotic – but certainly not something you see every day.
You may be wondering: where is this train going?
Well, we have the answer – sort of.
Some are freight trains going who knows where, others are passenger trains for you can hop aboard to experience this wild ride inside and out and decide which is better.
See the train schedule here.
But if we’re honest, motorcycles are the best way to tackle Vietnam in general – and Hanoi is no different.
Important note: renting two wheels (or four for that matter) is a slippery slope as US licenses and international permits are not recognized.
It’s a wink-wink situation.
One of the cheapest cities in Asia
You know the saying ‘laugh all the way to the bank’?
Well, money stretches almost comically far here. According to our own real-time data, you can expect the following price rangers in Hanoi:
- Hotel per night: $80 – $150
- Dinner for two: $30 – $60
- Beer: $2-$4
- Coffee: $2 – $4
- Taxi/Uber (10 minutes): $3–$6
Remember, these are averages, which means there are always better deals out there if you’re willing to look.
For example, if you’re looking for $80 on the low end for a nice hotel, I have the 5 star Meritel Hanoi before the end of May at only $70 per night.
Or how about when hunger strikes and you can’t wait to wolf down some piping hot noodles?
Go where Anthony Bourdain and President Obama ate together – recognized by Michelin Bún Chả Hương Liên without the typical Michelin inflated prices.
How safe is Hanoi?
Let’s go back to the tip top of the article: “Move Over Bangkok”.
Look, I understand it’s been over a decade since The Hangover trilogy, but Bangkok wasn’t portrayed in the best way with its gritty alleys and criminal underbelly.
These days, Bangkok actually wins the Travel Off Path Battle Royale between both cities in terms of which is safest.
That’s with the caveat that despite its enormous popularity, more travelers visit Bangkok than Hanoi, meaning there’s more input for one than the other.
As it stands, Bangkok scores higher at 82/100 at the time of writing.
As for Hanoi, that’s 75/100, which is actually quite shocking considering Vietnam’s notoriously safe reputation across the board – it’s even labeled “Level 1” (the lowest designation) by the US State Department.
I’m not always a gambler, but I would throw in some chips to say that as Hanoi’s momentum continues, the safer it will appear on our safety index.
There is one American non-stop connection with Vietnam
Vietnam may seem far away, but it depends where you come from.
For West Coasters like me, it’s actually not that difficult.
On the other hand, there are no direct flights to Hanoi, but there is one to Ho Chi Minh City:
Vietnam airlines operates their only US route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
