Vietnam Day 1 : Flight from Hong Kong to Hanoi - Bus from No Bai Airport to Old Quarter - Hanoi Night Market

1000 - Leaving Chungking Mansion and walked to the Holiday Inn to wait for the K3 free shuttle bus. This bus tool around half an hour to reach the Kowloon station. At Kowloon station, we proceed to the train even tough there is check in service here. However, our flight can't check in here.

Only us in the cabin

1130 - Reached the airport and walked towards the terminal 2 check in counter. After baggage dropped, our flight were changed to terminal 1 and the last boarding time was 12:55pm. We rushed for the lunch since there is not much time. After get through the immigration  and it was 12:40pm, we walked quickly. This departures is so big that we had to take another shuttle transit to our gates. We reached the gate at 12:55pm and luckily the gate is just opened and boarding.

Porridge with you tiao, HKD39

Pork with rice and milk tea, HKD39

Jetstar Pacific is our first time to take another company flight. The magazine is totally in vietnamese that I can't read anything from there. After the flight took off, we slept all the way.

So cheap but it is for domestic flight only

International flight menu

Leaving Hong Kong

Hi Vietnam

1425 (Vietname time slower 1 hour) - After 2 hours flight, we had to get on the bus to the immigration hall. After collect the backpack, we went to find the SIM card. We get the 4G unlimited data only card for 30 days and cost VND200k.

Bus to Immigration hall

There are 2 options to go to Hanoi Old Quarter:
Options 1 : Take the express bus and cost VND30k/person
Options 2 : Take the public bus 17 and cost VND9k/person

We choose the 2nd one since it is so cheap but took long time. However, the terminal that we arrived are terminal 2. We had to take the free shuttle bus to terminal 1. Then walked to the ground floor parking area and took the bus.

Place to wait for the free shuttle bus

Banh Mi at airport,VND55k

1745 - Reached the Long Bien Bus Station, we didn't feel many people approach us for the taxi as it may be due to just a public bus station. After that we walked to the booked hostel which is the Hanoi Old Quarter Backpacker Hostel. When we reached there it is happy hour for the beer that it is totally free! After leave the bag in the dorm room. We headed down and drink for many cups as possible while plan for the Vietnam.

Free flow of beer for an hour!

1930 - Walked around the Old quarter and we reached the Hanoi hottest street where there are a lot of bar and restaurants. The Hanoi night market is just beside the street.

Dinner, just a fried rice with chicken, VND60k

Many street performances

Many people sitting along the street for beer

I think it is famous walking street in Hanoi

Selling a lot of North Face and Under Armous clothes and bags

Hanoi Night Market

Many cheap "branded" shoes

During dinner, we found a way to go to Halong Bay in budget way which is go to the Cat Ba island. Hence,we didn't book any Ha Long Bay tour.

Our Expenses
Lunch : HKD81
Train from Kowloon to Airport : HKD123
Flight from Hong Kong to Ha Noi : MYR681.12
Bus from Airport to Old Quarter : VND18k
Sandwish : VND55k
Dinner : VND60k
Accomodation : VND184k
TOTAL : HKD204 + MYR681.12 + VND317k