Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 1 | Hoan Kiem Lake × Jade Mountain 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 a single day. Introduction This day officially kicks off our Northern Vietnam trip! On the night of September 20th, I once again took the VIP sleeper bus to Hanoi. Beforehand, I had specially arranged with the hotel to keep a room for me so I could rest for a bit right after arriving in the early morning. This small arrangement really turned out to be very important — being able to take a shower and catch some sleep after a long journey makes a huge difference to how you feel afterward. Meanwhile, the family took the early Starlux Airlines flight and landed in Hanoi right on time at 10:25. Since we had arranged it with the travel agency in advance, the driver set off from Hoan Kiem Lake at 10:00 to pick me up, and together we went to meet them 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, so when we arrived we even had time to grab a drink and wait a little. At 11:30, the family collected their luggage and walked out of the airport terminal, officially kicking off this North Vietnam family trip. Today's Itinerary Arriving at the Hotel and Lunch: Banh Mi Long Hoi We arrived at the hotel at 12:30 noon. 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 foods—Banh Mi (Vietnamese-style baguette sandwich).

This place really didn't let me down! My family unanimously praised this meal as "so delicious," which immediately boosted our first impression of Vietnam. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple After eating our fill and resting a bit, we started walking 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 tells the "Legend of the Returned Sword" and displays a precious specimen of the sacred turtle. Admission is 50,000 VND. Some members of our group had been there before, so they didn't go in again — but that's fine, since the scenery outside is just as charming. Those who didn't enter the temple strolled along the lakeside instead, watching many Vietnamese people take photos in their Áo dài. The atmosphere by the lake was leisurely and pleasant.

Kem Trang Tien: Traditional Flavors Since 1958 Our second stop takes us to Kem Trang Tien ice cream shop, an iconic ice cream parlor that has been serving since 1958 and holds cherished childhood memories for Hanoi residents. The most recommended flavor is green rice ice (Kem cốm), which tastes delightfully fresh and light without being greasy—it's one of the must-try desserts when visiting Hanoi.

St. Joseph's Cathedral × Cong Café At our third stop, we continue our walk to St. Joseph's Cathedral on the western shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. This French Gothic church, built in 1888, stands as one of Hanoi's most iconic colonial structures, with its magnificent and solemn appearance. Right across from the cathedral is the renowned Cong Café, a Vietnamese coffee chain that once created quite a buzz when it opened in Taiwan. Our family members ordered coconut milk iced coffee and white coffee (Cà phê sữa trắng), and everyone gave it high praise! Plus, the prices are only about half of what they charge in Taiwan.

Train Street and a Small Regret As our last stop, we strolled down to Train Street, originally hoping to wait for the 5 o'clock train to pass by. However, considering our tight schedule and the need to rush back to catch the 5:20 water puppet show, we had to give up on that idea. Looking back afterward, the itinerary for that day was quite packed. Scheduling Train Street for the evening after returning from Ninh Binh might have been more ideal.

Water Puppet Show: A Traditional Vietnamese Art After 12 years away, I once again enjoyed the Hanoi Water Puppet Show. This time I bought my ticket on Klook, choosing a middle seat with audio guide included, for about NT$286. At first I couldn't find where to exchange my ticket — the ticket counter directed me to a small counter nearby, where the staff member was playing a phone game while helping me (lol).

Water puppetry is a folk performing art passed down in Vietnam for a thousand years, in which performers use bamboo poles and strings to manipulate puppets on the water's surface. The audio guide isn't a live translation but a brief summary of the storyline; this time, since my Vietnamese has improved, I could roughly follow the plot. Even though my family 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 it's satisfying whether it comes to the ambiance, service, or food quality. The average cost per person is about 340,000 VND (roughly NT$400), which is extremely good value for money!

Relaxing at Night: Hanoi Old Quarter Spa After dinner, the family couldn't wait to try a Vietnamese-style massage. Thanks to a recommendation from our travel agency, we came to Hanoi Old Quarter Spa. I chose the "intensive massage," and it actually felt pretty similar to a regular Vietnamese massage, but the price was reasonable — one hour of massage including tip came to 460,000 VND (about NT$550).

Summary: A just-right first day. At first I worried that just wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake would be too boring, but it turned out the itinerary was full and relaxing at the same time. From a stroll by the lake to ice cream, a church, coffee, and then a night performance, finishing off with a massage. Before I knew it, we ended up wandering around until almost 11pm — this kind of pace was just right, and it's perfect as a warm-up itinerary for day one of a free and independent trip to Hanoi! Next Post →North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 2｜From Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Overlooking the Beautiful Terraced Fields 🔗 Further Reading｜North Vietnam Independent Travel Series 【Travel Journal】 North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 1｜Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake × Ngoc Son Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × First Experience of the Water Puppet Show Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 2 | Departing Hanoi for Sa Pa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Gazing Over Beautiful Terraced Fields Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 3 | Climbing Vietnam's Rooftop Fansipan × Conquering the Rong May Glass Bridge Above the Clouds Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 4 | Sa Pa Hiking × Mountain Forest Terraced Fields × Exploring Minority Ethnic Villages Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 5 | Trekking Through Yao Ethnic Villages × Bamboo Forest Trails × Discovering Hidden Waterfall Sanctuaries Northern Vietnam Backpacking Day 6 | Crossing Through the Yao-Miao Ethnic Minority Protection Area, Farewell in the Mist Northern Vietnam Backpacking Day 7 | Ninh Binh One-Day Tour: Trang An Boat Cruise × Mua Cave Hiking × Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary [Northern Vietnam Travel Guide Complete Compilation] Hanoi Complete Travel Guide | Must-Visit Attractions × Itinerary Planning × Extended Activities Around Northern Vietnam (2025 Updated Edition) Vietnam Sapa Tourism Guide | Northern Vietnam Rice Terraces and Ethnic Minority Cultural Hidden Gems Ha Long Bay Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary, Best Season, and Classic Attractions. Vietnam's Ha Long Bay World Cultural Heritage: Best Travel Season and Three-Day Itinerary Recommendation.