Restaurant Recommendations?
Hi, Tauckers! Looking for some insight from VCT travelers! Can anyone recommend restaurants and/or rooftop bars in Hanoi and Bangkok? Also, did anyone try a food tour in Bangkok? Lastly, how was the included meal in Bangkok at the hotel (not the farewell dinner)? Any feedback would be most appreciated! Thank you in advance!
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We were on this tour several years ago. Our hotel concierge in Hanoi recommended a "fancy" restaurant a short walk from the Opera House(?) that was quite good. It necessitated a walk across a roundabout full of traffic and many motorcycles. We made it to the restaurant without difficulty, and when the hostess asked if we enjoyed our meal we said, "the meal was great, now if we can only make it back to the hotel safely, it will be a total success." She immediately summoned one of the waiters who helped us across the street. (LOL) Just be mindful of the traffic, they do not stop for lights or stay in traffic lanes! Our TD also suggested many loca;l restaurants both in Hanoi, Ho Ann and Bangkok that were delicious if you want to try local food. Its a great trip
Hanoi is the least pedestrian-friendly city I've ever been to (though it wasn't bad around the lake area, but getting there...). Sidewalks are used for scooter/motorcycle parking, not walking.
Here's your typical sidewalk in Hanoi:
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I arrived a day early for my tour to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. I decided I wanted to visit the temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, which was not far from the hotel. I made it to the circular road that surrounds the lake, and was simply stuck to the pavement because I couldn't figure out how to cross the street. A group of young (maybe 20-something) ladies in lovely ao-dais came up, and one grabbed my hand and walked me across the street. I felt like the proverbial little old lady -- which I was -- being led across the street by a Boy Scout!
MCD - Great story. Different country, but when I was in my 20s I was afraid to cross a very busy street in Rome. I felt a hand on my arm and a nun stepped right into the street with me clinging to her. We crossed the street without incident. Later I was told that no one would ever run over a nun—tourist yes, but never a nun.
Just curious, are there gypsy problems in Hanoi. Is it OK to carry a backpack?
Thanks
Europe is the worst for security. We found Vietnam wonderful both times we were there. But then we usually don’t wear any jewelry to attract attention, not always for safety but we then look less interesting to hawkers
I had no problem in Vietnam either, never felt unsafe and like British I don't wear jewelry either except for a chain with a cross and small earrings.
Thanks everyone for the info about the restaurant situation and the street crossing stories! 😆Sounds like an adventure in and of itself! 😜 If anyone recalls the name of a specific restaurant you’d recommend on this tour - or anything else that would be good to plan in advance - please let know! Thank you!
https://vespaadventures.com/vietnam/
How about one of the above tours? We took two of these in Vietnam and it is one of the most fun things we have done. It was not part of the Tauck tour, but we had Larry Abbot, one of Tauck’s long time TD’s and he recommends them. We all took the tours, even those in their eighties . We did the night foodie tour in Ho Chi Min City and a countryside and crafts one in Hoi An. They have them in Hanoi too.
A Vespa food tour was included in our tour in January. While scary at times, it was a lot of fun. Making a left turn on a two-way street is interesting - they just go into on-coming traffic from the other direction and somehow it seems to work.
Our TD offered a Vespa food tour (at additional cost I think -- maybe not. The Saigon opera was definitely additional.). Most, if not all, of the people on the tour chose to take it. Each of us had a Vespa driver. I held on to mine for dear life, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Love it!! We are definitely interested in the Vespa tour if offered and very happy to hear that there is a driver at the wheel other than us! 😬 In Hanoi, we are planning to do the Soviet Jeep tour, so maybe we can ease into the Hanoi road scene! 😁