Having already visited most of Hanoi's sights yesterday, we started the day late.
Arrange a bus trip to Ha Long Bay
Our first order of business was to organize a bus trip to Ha Long Bay, 147 km away. Most tour operators try to sell you complete packages including transfers, a boat trip, and accommodation. However, our hotel was able to arrange a bus for us that cost $7 per person each way. Sure, you can find cheaper options, but we didn't want to waste the whole day comparing offers.
Water Puppet Theatre Hanoi
In the afternoon, we visited the famous water puppet theater. The price for a "First Class" ticket is 100,000 VND (approximately €3). However, we couldn't figure out the difference between First and Second Class. The legroom was definitely not designed for Europeans. Performances are held several times a day, but it's worth noting that evening shows are usually sold out 1-2 days in advance.
In the approximately one-hour performance, accompanied by traditional music, the puppets are manipulated above the water's surface. They are not suspended by strings, but by sticks that are guided just below the surface. The finale features the transformation of a golden carp into a dragon. We found the show very entertaining, even if we didn't understand much of the actual story.
Turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake
After the theater, we walked along Hoan Kiem Lake, the central point in Hanoi, to Hoa Lo Prison. At the lake, we witnessed what appeared to be a major event. Many Vietnamese people suddenly ran to the water's edge, armed with cameras. When we arrived, we understood why: a gigantic turtle suddenly appeared. Judging by its size, we think it must have been very old.
Hoa Lo Prison
The Hoa Lo Prison was built shortly before 1900 by the French occupying forces and was also used by the Americans and, after the end of the Vietnam War, by Vietnamese prisoners themselves. Among the American prisoners, it earned the nickname "Hanoi Hilton." We needed perhaps 45 minutes for the exhibition and touring the cell blocks. The price, at 10,000 VND per person (0.35 EUR), is very reasonable.
Dinner at Old Hanoi
For dinner, we decided to go to Old Hanoi on the recommendation of TripAdvisor. The restaurant is located in an old, restored French villa.
The ambiance is very elegant for Hanoi. We were shown to a small room with only three tables, and the waitress, who was solely responsible for this room, greeted us warmly. For an appetizer, we had freshly prepared spring rolls.
We each ordered our own main course, but the food was delivered one after the other. First came the duck with a sweet tamarind sauce, and then we ate the ordered beef steak with a rich sauce, onions, and leeks. Steamed rice accompanied it.
For dessert, we treated ourselves to flambéed mango and bananas. In the end, we paid just 650,000 VND (22.80 EUR) for the entire meal, including drinks.
