Travel memories / Vietnam / Hanoi
Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Phú Quốc
A trip through Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Phú Quốc, full of street food, sea days, boat trips and tropical surprises.
Dates: 17 October 2025 – 2 November 2025
Travelling together: Bryan, Dana
How it felt
We travelled from London to Vietnam for a holiday that took us from the busy streets of Hanoi to the islands and beaches of Phú Quốc, with a cruise through Ha Long Bay along the way.
Hanoi gave us history, busy crossings, delicious food and a rooftop stay near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Ha Long Bay brought a completely different kind of day, surrounded by limestone islands and dramatic scenery. Then we flew south to Phú Quốc, where the pace slowed down for beach days, snorkelling, markets and boat trips.
The trip had its share of tropical rain, unexpected detours and funny moments. These stories collect the places we visited and the small discoveries that made our Vietnam holiday ours.
Highlights
- Finding our feet in Hanoi, from the Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake to egg coffee and pho
- A memorable cruise among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay
- Flying south to Phú Quốc for beaches, snorkelling and a luxury speedboat trip
- Exploring the island, including Khem Beach, night markets and VinWonders
- Making the most of the rain, karaoke, cocktails and a final slow morning before flying home
Stories from this trip
- Vietnam Quick Facts
- The Final Knead: How to Leave Vietnam a Limp Noodle
- Pearls, Pitfalls and £2 Cocktails
- Sun, Sand and the Snob Next Door
- Champagne, Karaoke and the Great Phu Quoc Monsoon Show
- VinWonders: Screams, Sharks, and a Very Polite Denial at the Water Park
- Sun, Sea and the Sudden Need for Clean Pants
- Dana vs The Deep: A Czech Mermaid’s First Snorkelling Showdown
- Tropical Trials and Tribulations: Phu Quoc Edition
- Meet Uncle Ho’s Successor (Sort Of): The Power Behind Modern Vietnam
- Of Ghosts, Guards and Grab Taxis
- The Dress, the Daughter, and the Divine Egg Coffee
- Dragons, Sequins and Ginger Tea: Our Ha Long Bay Fairytale
- A Feast Fit for Vietnamese Women’s Day
- Coffee, Chaos and the Great Vietnamese Stand
- Hanoi Hysteria and the Case of the Parmesan Feet
- Jade Dreams and Phở for Breakfast — Bryan & Dana Take on Hanoi
- Pho Before Flight: The Calm Before the Storm (of Noodles)