Hanoi (Day 7)

April 20 Day 7

 Last day! I did not set my alarm and woke up at 6:30am. I packed my things, stowed them away in the hotel's storage, had breakfast, and stepped out by about 10am. I'm going to see the city that day. Lol. Contrary to most itineraries when people do the city tour on their first day, I did mine on the last day. My primary goal was to get to the Central part of Vietnam and from there, if time allows then I can see the other touristy places in Hanoi. I mean, the chances of me going back to Hanoi is better than me setting foot in the Central region again. (Funny, as I write this now. I already have a booked ticket for my Indochina trip next year, my exit point will be in Hanoi. :)

So anyway, I went to the SINH Cafe (something  should have done on Day 1, oh well) located in the ground floor of the City View Cafe Building. Got a huge Hanoi map and had the lady encircle my points of interest: The Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and the French Quarter. I also asked them if they book taxis to airport, she said they don't but that they could help me. She made one phone call and that's it, a taxi will pick me up at my hotel that night  and I was to pay the driver only 250.000. Way cheaper than the rate at the hotel.  Best decision ever.

First stop.

The Temple of Literature
Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi
Ticket Price: 20.000 VND

I seriously had no idea what was going on but I still soaked  in the chaotic atmosphere. I thought there was a graduation
ceremony of sort.

Believe me I offered money too and tried to do it the way they did. Shaking the money and all that haha. I was feeling an idiot but there was no one I know to see it sooo lol. To this day I wonder if it was real money or we had to buy paper money somewhere.

books everywhere! too bad I didn't have the luxury of time nor the money to get one. 

I wasn't sure if they were part of the ticket I paid for or if I have to pay extra to ask them to pose for a photo so I just shoot when someone else is. :P

Some videos:

Museum of Ethnology

Duong Nguyen Van Huyen, Cau Giay, Ha Noi
Open everyday from 8:30am to 5:30pm except Mondays and Tet holiday
Ticket Price: 40.000 VND
Fee to bring a camera in: 50.000 VND

They offer a guided tour but I got there past 11am and they're not gonna be back til 2pm. I couldn't afford to wait so it was another DIY.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One Pillar Pagoda

I took another Mai Linh cab back to Saint Joseph Cathedral as I wanted to retrace our steps during the Sunday Walking Tour but even though I tried, I couldn't find my way around. I ended up heading to the French Quarter.

St. Joseph Cathedral

Kem Trang Tien

Corner of Ngo Quyen and Trang Tien in the French Quarter

This isn't a fancy place but if you wanna have an authentic Hanoian experience, you MUST visit this ice cream shop. It's a drive in place actually and people either walk or bike their way inside and have their craving for ice cream satiated. I loved the vanilla ice cream, I think I spent about 40,000 dong on ice cream here: two vanilla on a cone, and one popsicle stick. I seriously didn't wanna leave the place.

King Ly Thai To Temple ( just across Hoan Kiem Lake) 

After walking for what seemed like hours, I sat down on one of the low plastic chairs and enjoyed a smoothie....

... while people watching :)

I honestly have no idea when or on what day I ate Bun Cha so I'll just have these here lol.

Bun Cha. I had no idea how to eat this too so  I asked the vendor but all he can say is "okay, okay". so, okaaay. xD

When the sun had set, I went back to Hoan Kiem Lake. It had become sort of my North Star, I knew how to find my way back to my hotel if I was coming from there. I hurriedly bought some bags for pasalubong, hoarded coffee, and went back to the hotel to wait for my cab. It rained a bit. I think Hanoi was also mourning the day I was leaving :) I told the reception to call me if someone looks for me. It was 5 minutes past the agreed time and my taxi hasn't arrived so I was getting worried. Turned out he was stuck in traffic but is already somewhere close by. One of the hotel personnel helped me with my bags and then I was off to the airport. Although feeling a wee bit sad about my departure, I was pleasantly surprised when the driver handed me a change of 20.000VND after paying him 250K.

Conclusion: Hey, Vietnam! I've loved you for the longest time, now I love you even more. See you next year!

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP (excluding airfare, terminal fee, travel tax, a bit of laundry, pre-booked train ticket from Hanoi-Hue, and pasalubong. Also, not all meals are accounted for. But I mostly eat in streetside restaurants, nothing fancy).

Hotel Fees 
        May De Ville Deluxe Room                                       $ 25
        May De Ville Dorm (2 nights at $6/bed)                        12
        Than Thien Hotel                                                        23
         Phuoc An Hotel                                                         18

Total                                                                                $78

                                          
Tour Packages 
        Sunday Walking Tour                                                $ 1
        3 Tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda                                    15
        My Son DIY Tour                                                        22
        Halong Bay Day Tour                                                   30
        3 more temples                                                             4
        Boat ride in Halong                                                      5.65

Total                                                                               $77.65

Entrance Fees
        3 Royal Tombs at 80.000VND each                            $ 12 
        The Citadel                                                                    5
        My Son                                                                         5
        Water Puppet Show                                                      5
        Temple of Literature                                                      1
         Museum of Ethnology (ticket + camera fee)                   4.25

Total                                                                                    $32.25

Taxi Fares
         just going around                                                           $ 12
         taxi Hoi An to Da Nang                                                    12
         taxi airport to May de Ville                                                15
         taxi May de Ville to airport                                                11

Total                                                                                       $50

Motorbike Rides (omg, I don't even wanna know)             $24

Train Ticket 
        Da Nang - Hanoi                                                              $65

Bus Fare Hue to Hoi An                                                          $5

Assorted Food                                                                        $20

GRAND TOTAL                                                           $351.90

I actually had 500USD on me and it was just enough. Whatever was not accounted for went to pasalubong, and other expenses during the trip  like laundry (very minimal), that KFC meal, the North Face Bags, coffee, etc. ) I withdrew money from an ATM but only about $35, just so I had enough Dong on me for the airport. Even then, I went home with 200.000VND left over.