North Vietnam Free & Easy Trip Day 1｜Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake × Ngoc Son Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × First Experience of Water Puppet Show

Easily explore Hanoi's Old Quarter on the first day, from French colonial architecture to traditional Vietnamese art, visiting the classic sights around Hoan Kiem Lake in one day. Foreword This day officially kicks off our Northern Vietnam trip! On the night of 9/20, I once again took the VIP sleeper bus to Hanoi. Beforehand, I had specially arranged with the hotel to keep a room reserved so I could rest for a bit right after arriving in the early morning. This small move turned out to be really important — being able to shower and catch some sleep after a long journey makes a world of difference in how you feel. The family members took an early Starlux Airlines flight, arriving punctually in Hanoi at 10:25. Since we had already arranged it with the travel agency beforehand, the driver set off from Hoan Kiem Lake at 10:00 to pick me up, and together we went to meet the family at the airport. The drive from Hoan Kiem Lake to the airport takes about 40 minutes, and since we avoided rush hour there was no traffic at all — we even had time to grab a drink and wait a little upon arrival. At 11:30, the family members collected their luggage and walked out of the airport lobby, officially kicking off this family trip to northern Vietnam. Today's itinerary Arrival at the hotel and lunch: Banh Mi Long Hoi It was already 12:30 noon when we arrived at the hotel. After putting down our luggage, I immediately took my family to Banh Mi Long Hoi, right next door to the hotel, to experience one of Vietnam's traditional delicacies — the French-style bread known as Banh Mi.

This place really didn't let me down! The whole family agreed this meal was "absolutely delicious", which instantly boosted our first impression of Vietnam. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple After eating our fill and resting a bit, we started strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake. Our first stop was Ngoc Son Temple by the lake, one of Hanoi's most iconic historical landmarks. Ngoc Son Temple mainly introduces the "Legend of Hoan Kiem Lake" as well as a precious preserved giant turtle specimen, and the entrance ticket costs 50,000 VND. Some members of our group had already visited before, so they didn't go in again — but honestly, it's fine even if you don't go in, since the exterior scenery is just as charming. The family members who didn't enter the temple strolled along the lakeside instead, watching many Vietnamese people take photos in their Áo dài, with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere by the lake.

Kem Trang Tien: The Traditional Flavor of 1958 Our second stop takes us to Kem Trang Tien ice cream shop, a renowned ice cream establishment that opened in 1958 and is also a cherished taste from the childhood of Hanoi residents. The most recommended flavor is Green Rice Ice (Kem cốm), which tastes fresh and light without being heavy, and is one of the must-try desserts when visiting Hanoi.

St. Joseph's Cathedral × Cong Café Third stop, we continue walking towards St. Joseph's Cathedral on the west side of Hoan Kiem Lake. This French Gothic church built in 1888 is one of the most representative colonial buildings in Hanoi, with a magnificent and solemn appearance. Directly opposite the church is the famous Cong Café, a Vietnamese chain coffee shop that once caused a sensation when it opened in Taiwan. The family members ordered coconut milk frappuccino coffee and white coffee (Cà phê sữa trắng), and all gave it rave reviews! Plus the prices are only about half of Taiwan's.

Train Street and a Small Regret For our last stop, we strolled to Train Street, originally hoping to wait for the 5 o'clock train to pass by. But considering our tight schedule — we still had to rush back to catch the 5:20 water puppet show — we had no choice but to give up on it. Looking back, this day's itinerary was a bit too packed; scheduling Train Street for "the evening after returning from Ninh Binh" might have been a better idea.

Water Puppet Show: Vietnam's Traditional Art After 12 years, I once again enjoyed the Hanoi Water Puppet Show. This time I bought my ticket on Klook, choosing a middle seat with an audio guide included, priced at about NT$286. At first I couldn't find where to exchange my ticket. The ticket counter directed me to a small counter nearby to exchange it, and the staff member was even playing a phone game while doing it (lol).

Water puppetry is a folk performing art passed down in Vietnam for a thousand years, in which puppeteers use bamboo poles and strings to manipulate puppets performing on water. The audio guide isn't a live translation but a brief summary of the plot; this time, since my Vietnamese has improved, I could roughly follow the storyline. Even though my family members couldn't understand Vietnamese, they all found the performance cute and fun—it's a classic Hanoi show well worth experiencing.

Dinner: L'essence De Cuisine Dinner was arranged at L'essence De Cuisine, a restaurant I newly discovered this year. This restaurant presents Vietnamese cuisine in a French style, and the ambiance, service, and quality of the dishes were all satisfying. The average spend per person was about 340,000 VND (around NT$400), which is extremely good value for money!

Nighttime relaxation: Hanoi Old Quarter Spa After dinner, the family couldn't wait to experience a Vietnamese-style massage. On the recommendation of a travel agency, we came to Hanoi Old Quarter Spa. I chose the "deep tissue massage," which actually felt pretty similar to a regular Vietnamese massage, but the price was reasonable — a one-hour massage including tip came to 460,000 VND total (about NT$550).

Summary: A day that was just right I was originally worried that just strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake would be too boring, but the itinerary turned out to be both fulfilling and relaxing. From a walk by the lake to ice cream, a church, coffee, then a night performance, and finally finishing off with a massage. Before I knew it, we ended up wandering around until almost 11pm at night — this kind of pace was just right, and makes for a perfect warm-up itinerary for the first day of a self-guided trip to Hanoi! Next Article → North Vietnam Free Travel Day 2 | From Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Overlooking the Beautiful Terraced Rice Fields 🔗 Related Reading | North Vietnam Free Travel Series 【Travel Journal】 North Vietnam Free Travel Day 1 | Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake × Ngoc Son Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × First Experience of the Water Puppet Show North Vietnam Free Tour Day 2｜Departing from Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Overlooking the beautiful terraced rice fields Northern Vietnam Independent Travel Day 6｜Crossing the Yao and Miao Ethnic Reserve, a Farewell in the Fog Northern Vietnam Independent Travel Day 7｜Ninh Binh One-Day Tour: Trang An Boat Ride × Mua Cave Hike × Thung Nham Bird Reserve 【Complete Guide to Northern Vietnam Travel】 Hanoi Travel Complete Guide｜Must-Visit Attractions × Itinerary Planning × Extended Trips Around Northern Vietnam (2025 Updated Edition) Vietnam Sapa Travel Guide｜Northern Vietnam's Terraced Fields and Ethnic Minority Cultural Hideaway Ha Long Bay Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary, Best Season, and Classic Attractions Vietnam's Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site: Best Travel Season and Three-Day Itinerary Recommendations