Discover Hanoi: 5D4N Solo Travel Guide for Cultural Exploration

This year, I took a leap and did something I never imagined — a solo adventure [raising hand R]. Vietnam proved to be incredibly budget-friendly, with expenses surprisingly low. For a 5-day, 4-night trip, including all the fun, food, and drinks, it only set me back 750 MYR (excluding airfare and accommodation).

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[airplane R] Round-trip AA ticket ———— 825 MYR
Hand carry +7kg round trip —— 124 MYR
4 nights accommodation ———— 510 MYR
Ninh Binh Day Trip ————— 149 MYR
Transportation —————— 150 MYR
Food and drinks —————— 283 MYR
Drinking (every day) ———— 171 MYR
Total expenses —————— 2212 MYR
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[check-in R] Day 1 — Tam Dao
Given the 8-hour journey to Sapa, I opted for the closer destination of Tam Dao, just 1.5 hours from Hanoi. The winding mountain roads can be a bit nauseating, but the view is worth it. This quaint little town is perfect for a quick escape, with only two main attractions: the stone church and the castle.

Locals often visit to beat the heat, and while the scenery is serene, it might not be the most thrilling spot for everyone [laugh-cry R]. So, I’ll keep this brief.
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[check-in R] Day 2 — Hanoi
Accommodation: La Mandarina Hotel & Travel
Nestled in the heart of Hoan Kiem Lake, with the Old Quarter just a stone’s throw away, this hotel is a convenient base for exploring the city.

[polaroid R] Must-visit spots
– Hoan Kiem Lake
– St Joseph Cathedral
– Train Street
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[check-in R] Day 3 — Ninh Binh
Booked from Klook: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc/Trang An, Mua Cave Day Tour
[polaroid R] Highlights
– Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
– Trang An (often called the “Land Halong Bay”)
– Mua Cave (Sleeping Dragon Mountain)
[star R] Ninh Binh was the highlight of my trip.

The breathtaking landscapes were truly rejuvenating.
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[check-in R] Day 4 — Hanoi
[polaroid R] Must-visit spots
– Long Bien Bridge
– French Quarter
– Trang Tien Street (Uniqlo & Trang Tien Plaza)
– Hang Dao Night Market
– Ta Hien Bar Street
I also tried to visit Ba Dinh Square & Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, but unfortunately, my selfie stick wasn’t allowed in.

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[check-in R] Day 5 — [airplane R]
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[raising hand R] Stay tuned for my next post on the culinary delights and beverages [coffee R]!