Plus, the trains are more comfortable and safer.
They are unstoppable, there are no earplugs strong enough to protect you from the noise of the road. The roads are unsafe, the traffic is crazy, and the worst part: they honk the bloody horn all the time. We did only two trips by road in Vietnam and they were enough to learn the lesson: don’t travel by bus in Vietnam and don’t go to Hanoi by bus!
Travelling to Hanoi by bus is a nightmare. Don’t forget to check our my Hanoi Travel Guide post for more useful travel info. Co Loa is the oldest ancient capital in the region; a little visited site slightly northeast of Hanoi.
It is accessible by bus or train to Lao Cai , then onward by minibus or hired motorbike. The Sapa mountain region, home to ethnic minorities, gorgeous mountain scenery, and trekking paths connecting many tiny mountain villages is the second most popular trip. The wifi cafes are usually concentrated around Hoan Kiem lake area.
All you have to do is order something from their menus and use their wifi for as long as you want. There are also cafes where they have free wireless. The cafes that charge you for using the Internet usually provide desktop computers.
As of June 2014, Hanoi Group Taxi and Mai Linh are generally the two most reputable companies, though even then, dishonesty may occasionally surface from driver to driver. Ask your hotel which taxi companies are reliable – dishonest taxis are equipped with meters that run at an adjusted (much faster) rate. Be vigilant when taking a taxi, if you have bags in the trunk, make sure he does not drive off with your bags.
If you are exploring Hanoi on a motorbike be extremely cautious when going past stationary Taxis, expect the unexpected, like a taxi door suddenly flinging open. A lot of locals usually suggest it but keep in mind that it closed 9 Sep 2012. Track Bar right under the Long Bien Bridge is no longer open.
Dramatically positioned on its own island in West Lake and reached in the evenings by a stroll along a torch-lit bridge, Sunset Bar’s tropical Asian ambiance and stunning sunset views over the lake afford guests a sanctuary from which to escape the bustle of downtown hanoi tourist attraction [hanoitourist.org]. Sunset Bar – InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, 1A Nghi Tam, ☎ +84 4 6270-8888. Just a few drops are added to noodles for the unique aroma.
Another exotic regional taste is ca cuong, an extract from the belostomatid, or giant water bug. There are a number of restaurants in the Tay Ho district. A local delicacy in the Hanoi area is dog meat (thịt chó), which is especially popular in the winter.
There seemed to be no regular food Health Department inspector working regularly in the city. The rule of thumb is if the price is expensive, hygiene quality may or may not be OK, but if the price is cheap, definitely hygiene quality is compromised.