This is Day 4 of our 5D4N Hanoi itinerary, where we spent a full day exploring Hanoi’s top sights from the Imperial Citadel to Train Street and ending with a local seafood feast.
Attractions we covered today
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- Dong Xuan Market
- Hanoi Train Street
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (map)
I am a bit of a history buff, especially when it comes to imperial history. I love Hue, and when I found out that there is an imperial citadel complex in Hanoi, I immediately added it to my must-visit list.
We took a Grab from our hotel and were dropped off right at the entrance. Entrance fee is VND100k per person.
I will not attempt to write another lengthy post about the history of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, given that there are already multiple articles out there. You can read more about it online. I shall let the pictures do the talking.
Flag Tower (Ky Dai)
Main Gate (Doan Mon)
Kinh Thien Palace
Please note that, other than the key sights mentioned above, there are various exhibition halls around the compound showcasing the rich history behind the citadel, so do allow some time to explore those as well.
For reference, we spent about 2 hours here.
Dong Xuan Market (map)
We took a Grab with the plan to head back to the hotel nearby for lunch, but the car got stuck in bad traffic due to a road closure. So we decided to disembark and continue on foot.
Rick saw on the map that we were quite near to Dong Xuan Market, so we decided to head there to check it out and possibly have lunch there.
I realised we didn’t take many photos inside Dong Xuan Market, except for the following two photos taken on the outside. But thinking back, I think I know why.
Dong Xuan Market, being a wholesale market, is a shopping heaven for shoppers but it was our worst nightmare. Hah.
For us, with major decision fatigue, stepping in and seeing hundreds of shops selling almost the same things – clothes, winter wear, socks, bags, shoes, souvenirs, toys, hats – my goodness.
And the shops are all located very close to one another, with the walkways in between barely wide enough for one person.
Claustrophobic.
Nuts
So my mum, knowing that I was coming to Hanoi, gave me a shopping list: cashew nuts and lily bulbs. She brought it before when she was in Hanoi and she loved it.
After much searching, I found a whole cluster of shops selling dried goods and specialty nuts among others. I stopped at the shop with the least crowd and proceeded to get what I needed.
The lady couldn’t really speak or understand English, so we had to use a translator app a couple of times, but in the end, we managed to purchase everything.
I also got sugared ginger, sugared winter melon, and sugared lily bulbs.
(I think I will get diabetes one day with my high sugar intake. Hah.)
More Donuts at Bánh Rán Cổ Truyền Mật Đường (map)
While we were walking back, we passed by Bánh Rán Cổ Truyền Mật Đường, who are widely reviewed for their banh ran and even included in some street food tours. So, of course I need to give it a try. I took some advice for some of the reviews and go straight to the storefront and purchased from the uniformed staffs (Note: there are other roadside carts selling the same in front of their shop) and brought the ones freshly off the stove. But in my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of the shop.
Lunch at Thạch Hoan Quán (map)
We ended up having lunch near our hotel, with the main objective of dropping off our loots in the room.
Couldn’t decide where to go, and as we were walking past Thạch Hoan Quán, we were drawn in by the smell of grilled meat. There were also quite a few locals dining inside, so we decided to give it a try.
Final verdict: Their bún chả is good. I feel like the meat is more tender. Not sure if it’s because of the smell of the grilled meat that elevated my senses.
But note: customer service is non-existent at the shop. Maybe it’s because they serve more locals than tourists.
Very transactional – you sit, order, they serve, you eat, pay, and leave.
We walked back to the hotel, dropped our stuff, and headed out again. Train Street!
Hanoi Train Street – South (map)
We did quite a bit of research beforehand on Train Street.
1. Northern vs Southern section
According to multiple sources, the northern section is nicer, but the southern section is quieter, more laid-back, and more relaxed.
So that’s where we decided to go. We ordered a Grab to Le Duan Street.
2. Check the Train Schedule
We checked the train schedule beforehand.
For the southern section, there are usually 2 timings daily – 3:30pm and 7:30pm. It is advised to arrive about 30 minutes earlier to settle down. So we set off around 2pm and arrived at about 2:45pm with the intention to catch the 3:30pm train.
Note: The schedule isn’t always exact, and delays are common, but the café owners usually know the latest timing. When we were walking to the café, the owner told us the train would arrive around 4pm and true enough, it came at 4:07pm.
3. Which cafe to go to?
Honestly, the entire street is lined with cafés, so you will not be short of choices.
You can either shortlist a café beforehand and contact the owner to pick you up at the entrance or do what we did.
Our Grab driver dropped us off opposite Train Street. While we were waiting to cross, a café owner approached us and asked if we were heading to the Train Street.
She invited us to her café, and after some hesitation, I made the executive decision to follow her and I’m glad I did. She helped us cross the street and led us to her café:
Drink Haven – No.31 Train Railway Street (map)
By the time we left, it was peak hour, with everyone heading home from work.
Traffic was bad, and we had a hard time getting a Grab, but eventually we managed to get one and headed back to the hotel for a rest.
Seafood Dinner at Hải Sản Bình Dân (map)
Our final dinner in Hanoi.
We decided to treat ourselves to a roadside seafood dinner. I found Hải Sản Bình Dân nearby with a raving 4.8 rating.
In fact, we walked past the stall the day before, and both seafood stalls were fully packed with locals so we knew it was a good sign.
What we ordered
Final verdict: The seafood was super fresh, and the clams with citronella was very unique. Honestly, I would never have expected citronella to be used in cooking, so I found it really interesting. I even joked that I had become a human “mosquito repellent” after drinking the citronella soup. Hah.
I would recommend trying the steamed lobster instead, so you can taste the natural freshness rather than having it covered in butter sauce. By the end, I found the butter a bit too creamy and overpowering.
Desserts at Little Bowl (map)
If you haven’t realised by now, I am a dessert person. I love my desserts!
I shortlisted quite a few dessert spots and pinned them on Google Maps, but today was our last day in Hanoi and I still hadn’t visited any of them (other than bánh rán).
So despite being completely full after dinner, I insisted on going to Little Bowl, which was just a 5-minute walk away. Little Bowl sells traditional Vietnamese desserts (chè), made with beans, fruits, and coconut milk.
What I ordered
Left: Mixed Bowl (condensed milk, sweet noodles, tapioca, beetroot jelly, pandan jelly, jackfruit)
Cost: 30k VND
Right: Traditional Mixed Bowl (red beans, mung beans, taro, pandan jelly, coconut milk, banana, tapioca, pomelo)
Cost: 30k VND
Final verdict: If you are a dessert person, this is a MUST-GO. I ended up finishing both bowls myself. Hah.
Now back to hotel to pack up for tomorrow. And just like that, our final full day in Hanoi came to an end.
Next Up: Day 5: Hanoi Last Day, Best Massage & Departure
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