Honeymoon in Hanoi

To me, this capital city is an impressive blend of the old world and the new. From the airport, we passed modern highways and international hotel chains, but along with them was the traditional Vietnamese architecture preserved in the houses and, of course, the famous old French quarters of Hanoi.

My husband and I went to Hanoi for our honeymoon. It was a great choice of destination. The city was laid-back but still had the right tinge of excitement for us. Apart from that, we visited during its coldest season—a really wonderful climate in which to walk along the Hoan Kiem Lake or just hang out at the terrace of Highlands Coffee (it's like Hanoi's answer to Starbucks).

The people were always smiling and very helpful. The food, authentic Vietnamese and French, was superb. Plus, there were a lot of excellent buys here, from clothes to trinkets.

Just observing the structures, designs, and lifestyles of the people was "colorful" enough to keep us occupied. The rich history of Vietnam was written all around. This is why we did a lot of walking here, because along the way we were exploring every street.

The 5-day vacation seemed a long stay when were just packing our bags for the trip, but we discovered from our very first day in Hanoi that it would not be enough. I think this is true, though, in every trip that you make. There are always a lot more things you would want to do at every destination. But, whatever the case, we have come to love this city and we hope to come back soon.

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My husband and I enjoyed our stay in this hotel in spite of some flaws, particularly because of its reasonable price and location.

Without the steep price and grandeur of usual hotel suites, theirs had the comfort of a king-sized bed, a small seating area, and a spacious bathroom. The big bathtub would have been great, but the tank capacity of the water heater in our bathroom was not enough to fill the tub. And in January, hot water is vital in taking a bath in Hanoi.

A couple of times we ordered some Vietnamese specialties from their menu through room service, and they were good. The complimentary breakfast spread, though, should have had more variety. They offered the same limited local dishes every morning. But it is easy to go out into the streets of Hanoi, which are lined with restaurants offering delicious coffee, breads, and French cuisine.

Golden Key's location lets you enjoy easy access (particularly with the bikes and taxis for hire flooding the streets) to the different sights and eating and shopping attractions of Hanoi. Also, since there is a short driveway from the street itself to the hotel entrance, the noise of Quan Su Street was non-existent in our room.

For its price and location, Golden Key Hotel is highly recommended for budget-conscious travellers.

There was only one dish served here - Cha Ca. You just had to get a table, sit down, and tell the attendant how many orders we wanted. The dish was then served in a sizzling pot together with peanuts, herbs, noodles, and a stinky fish sauce for seasoning. The fish itself was fresh and the whole dish tasted really good. The ambience of the typical Vietnamese house added to the "flavor" of our meal. I would definitely come back here when we visit Hanoi again.

My husband and I were able to see this lake at different times of the day. Really has a particular attraction about it. For me, it seems to change moods depending on the hour. In the morning, it is just quite serene and simple. In the afternoon, it can be mysterious. But towards the evening, it becomes more and more romantic.

Cross the red bridge. Go around every corner of the temple. And don't forget to take photos while you're here. I regret not taking a lot of them during our trip. There's a lot of culture you can see in this humble tourist spot.

A Hanoi vacation is definitely incomplete without visiting this charming feature in the heart of the city.

At first, I wasn't really enthusiastic about seeing the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Just went here out of curiosity because all the travel guidebooks and websites recommend this as a must see. And to my surprise, I enjoyed the show a lot!

As soon as the music started playing, excitement filled the packed theater. The colorful puppets showed different scenarios of traditions, livelihoods, and customs of Vietnam. The whole program was presented in Vietnamese. I didn't understand a single word and, most probably, neither did the majority of the audience, which was made up of Americans and Europeans. But what's amazing is that everyone was laughing and left the theater in a delightful mood.

I do recommend that anyone travelling to Hanoi see this show. It would also be good to get your tickets early as they sell out easily. They had two ticket prices, one for the upper levels of seats and the other for the lower levels. Even if the venue is just small, I still suggest that you get the seats nearest the stage. We got our tickets for 40VND and that's for the lower levels already. It is really affordable.

It would be best to check on the updated ticket rates and presentation time before going to the theater. You can also visit their website at www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org for contact info.