Halong Bay tour and exploring Hanoi and Saigon

This was our first and hopefully not our last trip to Vietnam. We visited the fascinating cities of Hanoi and Saigon. Went on a Halong Bay cruise and did a Mekong Delta Tour from Saigon.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It’s a bustling city known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and lively street life. Tourist attractions are the historic Old Quarter with narrow streets of shops, markets and exciting food stalls.

From the moment we were picked up at the airport, we fell in love with Vietnam—and especially Hanoi. With a population of six million and an estimated five million scooters, the city’s streets were alive with energy and chaos. Everywhere we looked, people were selling, buying, cooking, and eating right on the footpaths. It was never dull, not for a second. We stayed in a small hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter, not far from Hoàn Kiếm Lake. From there, we could easily walk to lakeside restaurants for a meal. Most importantly, we discovered a shopping area where we could even buy Australian wine.

The first thing to learn in Vietnam is how to cross a street. But there are no traffic lights or pedestrian crossings. There is only one rule: keep going and don’t stop as scooters and cars pass you.

The very first skill you need to master in Vietnam isn’t using chopsticks—it’s crossing the street. There are no traffic lights, no pedestrian crossings—just a constant flow of scooters and cars. The only rule? Step out, keep moving steadily, and whatever you do, don’t stop. Just walk slowly and steadily, and like magic, the traffic parts around you—as if you’re Moses and the Red Sea is made of motorbikes.

The Old Quarter, near Hoan Kiem Lake, is the oldest and busiest commercial district. We had a great time exploring the old streets and taking in the vibrant atmosphere.

Vietnamese women are clever, resourceful, and incredibly hard-working. One day, a friendly woman approached us with a warm smile. Without a word, she placed her conical hat on my wife’s head, slung her basket over her shoulder, and set us up for the perfect photo opportunity. Of course, we couldn’t resist buying some fruit—and gave her a generous tip. She walked away beaming. No doubt it was her best sale of the day. Smart woman!

The walkways are made for walking. However, not in Hanoi. People use them for cooking, eating, selling, getting haircuts, and parking scooters. Cars, scooters, and pedestrians share the road, which is fascinating.

Footpaths are usually made for walking. However, not in Hanoi. There, they transform into open-air kitchens, sidewalk cafés, street stalls, barber shops, and parking lots for scooters. So pedestrians, scooters, and cars share the road, which is fascinating.

Street food is everywhere in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Just pick a stall, order something delicious, and squeeze onto one of those tiny plastic chairs to eat and chat with the locals they’re always friendly. There’s just one small problem: if you’re our old, getting down is easy but getting back up? Not so much!

Upmarket restaurant in the CBD of Hanoi during lunchtime.

A chic, high-end restaurant in Hanoi’s vibrant CBD, alive with the midday crowd.

The Temple of Literature, which was established in 1070 to honour the Chinese philosopher Confucius, is a great place to visit. This is the first university in Vietnam, and in addition, it is a place where many students come for their graduation ceremony. There are five wonderful courtyards in different styles.

The Temple of Literature was set up in 1070 in honour of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It’s a great place to visit. This is Vietnam’s first university, and many students come for graduation. There are five wonderful courtyards in different styles. This is a view of the third courtyard, which is also known as the Well of Heavenly Clarity.

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a province in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is known for its stunning natural scenery, including limestone karsts, rivers, and caves. Ninh Binh is also home to several historical and cultural sites. It is also popular for boat tours and hiking.

We went on a private tour of Ninh Binh province, which included a car, driver, and guide. The tour also took us to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s Ancient Royal Capital, and included a rowing tour as well as a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.

Most tourists choose the overcrowded Tam COC rowing excursion, but we choose the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve tour

While most tourists flock to the overcrowded Tam Cốc rowing excursion, we opted for the quieter, more serene Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve. It was a beautiful choice. Our guide—a cheerful and strong local woman—did all the rowing. In fact, it’s the women who do most of the heavy rowing here. Remarkable!

"It was fantastic gliding through the wetlands. It's such a tranquil experience."

Gliding through the wetlands was absolutely fantastic. The gentle splash of the oars, and the mirror-like water created a tranquil experience we won’t forget.

During the tour, we passed by a boat with a newlywed couple.

During the tour, we glided past a boat carrying a newlywed couple. It was a beautiful and unexpected moment that added a touch of romance to the serene setting.

We slipped quietly into the cave, inside, it was cool and dark, the cave ceiling low and mysterious. The reflections on the water were like paintings—still, perfect, and utterly mesmerizing.

Halong Bay Cruise

Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of breathtaking natural beauty. It is a 3-4 hour drive from Hanoi. It is famous for its emerald waters and dozens of beautiful limestone inlets. In addition, there are stunning caves and traditional floating fishing communities.

Our next excursion was a three-day cruise on Halong Bay with Signature Cruise. There were only 20 passengers, although the same number of crew members were on board. The accommodations were luxurious, and the food was outstanding. Onboard activities included Tai Chi sessions and hands-on Vietnamese cooking classes. Excursions took us to a pearl farm and a traditional floating fishing village. In addition, we did a fantastic kayak tour and a visit to a stunning cave. Everything was included in the package, making it an unforgettable tour.

The peak tourist season at Halong Bay is from October to April. We cruised in early November. There were several cruise ships in the bay, but it was not overcrowded. Which did not detract from the natural beauty and tranquillity of the bay.

The peak tourist season in Halong Bay runs from October to April. We cruised in early November, when the weather was pleasant and the bay was lively but not overcrowded. While several cruise ships shared the waters, they didn’t shrink the bay’s natural beauty or its sense of tranquility.

During our Halong Bay cruise, we stopped on a tiny, beautiful island for a swim. After that, a hike up a small hill with a view of Halong Bay.

During our Halong Bay cruise, we stopped at a tiny, idyllic island perfect for a refreshing swim in the calm, emerald waters. Afterward, we hiked up a small hill from where we had a spectacular panoramic view of the bay, with its maze of limestone karsts rising from the water.

Later, we went on a kayak tour. After a short instruction on how to handle the kayak, we went off. Our excellent guide took us along the limestone cliffs to Vung Vieng Fishing Village. Gliding across the blue sea, surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery , was an unforgettable experience.

We went on another excursion from our Halong Bay cruise ship. Little boats picked us up and rowed us to a floating fishing village and a pearl farm. Guess who did the rowing? Vietnam's women!!

We went on another excursion from our cruise ship, this time in small, traditional rowboats. Guess who did the rowing? Vietnam’s women!!

The dining room was beautiful, but we preferred to sit outside and enjoy the view of the bay and the balmy night.

The dining room was elegant and beautifully, but we much preferred sitting outside, where we where we had the stunning views of the bay and enjoy the warm, balmy night air. We loved dining under the stars.

Enjoying a spectacular sunset at Halong Bay cruise.

The sunset over Ha Long Bay was absolutely breathtaking. The sky blazed with vibrant hues—deep orange, fiery red, and warm magenta—spilling their colors across the still waters below. The limestone islands stood in silhouette, adding to the drama of the scene. It was a truly magical way to end a day on the water.

During the Halong Bay cruise, we passed many small fishing boats with people fishing and living on board.

During our Halong Bay cruise, we passed numerous small fishing boats, where people were not only casting nets but also living aboard. Many fishing families live in floating villages. It was fascinating to watch the everyday life in these unique settlements

We watched A woman is selling her catch while caring for her small children from our Halong Bay cruise ship

In a small wooden boat, a woman with her young children offered their freshly caught fish for sale—a quiet glimpse into life on the bay.

Saigon

Saigon—now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City—is Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic metropolis. As the economic powerhouse of the country, the city is both modern and has strong influences from its French colonial past. Popular attractions include the War Remnants Museum, elegant French colonial architecture, the bustling Ben Thanh Market, and the historic Cu Chi Tunnels.

We had planned to visit Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, but we had to change our itinerary due to a typhoon warning for the East Sea, and we took a direct flight to Ho Chi Minh City – Saigon.

There are many lovely buildings from the French colonial period in Saigon. This is the main post office.

Saigon is home to many charming buildings from the French colonial era. During our visit, we found several of them closed for restoration. This one—the Central Post Office—is a standout example.

While in Saigon, we went to the Opera to see the famous Show, a Vietnamese Bamboo Circus with unique live music. They used bamboo to perform incredible acrobatics. The show was presented around the world, including at the Sydney Opera.

While in Saigon, we went to a performance at the Opera House—the famous Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. This show combined extraordinary acrobatics with unique live music, all centered around the use of bamboo. This production has toured the world, including a performance at the Sydney Opera House.

There are a lot of very luxurious shops in Ho Chi Minh City District 1, as well as the large Diamond Plaza department store.

Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 is home to numerous high-end boutiques and luxury shops, along with the impressive Diamond Plaza department store.

Shopping at a market like Ben Thanh however, is much more fun and cheaper, as there are hundreds of stalls, and all of them are trying to sell something. Haggling is a lot of fun.

Shopping at a market like Ben Thanh, however, is far more fun and far more affordable. With hundreds of bustling stalls, each one eager to make a sale, the atmosphere is lively and full of energy. Haggling is all part of the experience, and is a lot of fun.

Mekong Delta Tour

The Mekong Delta is a sprawling network of rivers, swamps, and islands. Agriculture is the backbone of its economy. The fertile region producing an abundance of rice, fruits, vegetables, and fish. It’s also a popular destination for travelers. There boat tours through narrow canals, visits to bustling floating markets, and the chance to explore traditional villages known for their local crafts and way of life.

From Saigon, we took a private tour to the Mekong Delta. The first stop was the colourful Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. To explain, the Caodaism is a Vietnamese religion that combines teachings from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

From Saigon, we took a private tour to explore the Mekong Delta. The first stop was the colourful Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. Caodaism is a Vietnamese religion that combines teachings from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

In Di Ba, we visited a local market where you could buy everything from vegetables to fruit, poultry, frogs, and fish.

In Di Ba, we visited a local market where vendors sold everything from fresh vegetables and fruit to poultry, frogs, and fish.The atmosphere was fascinating and gave us a glimpse into everyday life in the region.

We took a one-hour motorbike ride through Vietnam's fertile Mekong Delta region, which produces 60% of the country's rice. We came across some unusual concrete towers constructed for swallows to build their nests, which are later sold as a delicacy for $1200/kg.

We took a one-hour motorbike ride through Vietnam’s lush Mekong Delta, a region that produces 60% of the country’s rice. Along the way, we came across curious concrete towers—specially built structures designed to attract swallows. Their nests, prized as a delicacy in bird’s nest soup, are harvested and sold for up to $1,200 per kilogram.

During our Mekong Delta tour, we enjoyed a nice meal with our lovely guide, at the Tan Thanh Beach.

hile having lunch, we enjoyed a nice view of the sea, fishing huts, and boats.

While having lunch, we enjoyed a nice view of the sea, dotted with fishing huts and colorful boats gently swaying in the breeze.

Later, after lunch, our guide took us on an hour-long cruise down the big Mekong Delta. This was very different from our Halong Bay cruis

After lunch, our guide took us on a leisurely hour-long cruise along the wide, muddy waters of the Mekong Delta.

During our cruise through the Mekong Delta, we passed several floating fish farms and riverside houses, many of them perched on stilts.

Later, we switched to a smaller boat and went along a small canal to a small settlement.

That was the final stop on our fantastic Mekong Delta tour before we returned to Saigon. This was the end of our vietnam trip, we still rember our Halong Bay Cruise

That was the final stop on our fantastic Mekong Delta tour before we returned to Saigon. With our excellent guide, we celebrated it with a glass of delicious snake wine. Snake wine recipe: Soak snakes, cobras, and other venomous snakes in rice wine for months. It tastes better than whisky and is much healthier. It is also an aphrodisiac and a medicine for everything from rheumatism to hair loss.