Full and exhilarating day in Hanoi from cruise ship!
It isn't easy to find tours from Ha Long Bay cruise port to Hanoi because of the drive but we were determined and found this private tour. I didn't know what to expect exactly. There was some confusion about the start time and the non-English speaking driver had to wait for us. It was a 2.5 hour drive to Hanoi where we met our guide "Amy." There was also some hiccups about knowing exact open hours and gates. So it was kind of a slow start, but Amy found her rhythm, she and the driver moved us around Hanoi by car or on foot to take advantage of the time. Amy was knowledgeable and passionate about the city, it's history, people and culture. We especially enjoyed the food tour to a variety of different family-run street food stalls, enjoyed 10-12 different items, all delicious. We ended up near the mausoleum around sunset just as the park lights came on, very beautiful!! Our tour finished with a "cyclo" ride around the Old Quarter, then egg coffee as a final treat. Amy made sure we saw everything we wanted and went long on the tour, so we got back to the ship late but very satisfied. Thank you to Amy and the driver, I would highly recommend!