Summary of my expenses in Hanoi:
AirAsia round trip = RM162.20
Luggage = RM70
Spending:
USD$192 x RM3.135 = RM602
490k VnD x 0.000156 = RM76.44
Grand total for the 7D6N trip = RM910.64
Travel itinerary:
1st day, 16/8(Thurs):
-Flight at 6:30am, reached Hanoi at 8:50am (GMT+7).
-Took an airport van (USD$2, all below in USD) to Hanoi city, stop at train station.
-10:30am: Bought train ticket from Hanoi-Sa Pa, Slow train, air Con hard sleeper 6 berth/cabin at $19. Attached is the price list for different sleepers/seats.
所以只要买到火车票问题就解决了一半。价格如下：
快车：
４人仓 ：515k
6人仓 ：430k(最底） , 405k, 355k (最高）
慢车：
６人仓：405/380k/335k(最高）
-11:00am: Took a motor-tuk to Bodega hotel to temporary store my luggage, check out their room prices, and Sapa/ HaLong Bay packages.
Package Offered :
a) Dorm $6, Single room $16, 4 berth/cabin at $37,
b) 4D3N Sa pa package include train for $130, stayed at Aubeger Hotel and Homestay for 2 nights in Sa
pa, 2 nights in train.
c) 2D1N Halong Bay , Std boat at $70, Superior boat $79 and Deluxe boat at $109.
- 12pm: Exchange USD to Vnd at local goldsmith at Ha Trung St, 1USD= 20,840 Dong,
(better than 1USD= 20,096 in Sg Wang KL.)
Tips: Exchange your RM into USD and prepare 50k Dong for transportation from airport- Hanoi town. Then exchange USD into Vietnam Dong (VnD) in Hanoi as it is cheaper to pay in Dong.
-1pm: Walked to Quan An Ngon, the famous Vietnamese restaurant recommended by Tripadvisor.com and Lonely Planet.
- 2:30pm: Visited Hoa La prison, 4pm: Temple of Literature,
- 6pm: Ho Kiem Lake and check prices offered by Little Hanoi
Package offered by Little Hanoi:
a) Dorm: $8/ Private Room $25
b) 2D1N Sapa trip $54
Good backpacker ambiance, there is a supermarket nearby. Quite secluded in a back alley opposite Ho Kiem Lake.
-7pm: Dinner at road side Pho, back to Bodega Hotel, a simple bath and follow two backpacker to train station at 8:30pm.
-9:30pm: Settled myself in my berth, overnight-sleeper to Lao Cai.
2nd day 17/8(Fri)
-Thanks for the slow train, i am able to enjoy the morning scenery, train arrived at 7:30am, 2 hours later than fast train.
-8am: Checked for train from Lao Cai - Hanoi 2 days later, all sleepers on Sunday was sold out.
Took a van to Sa Pa at $3 (should be $2.5/50k but the driver insisted of slaying me)
-Checked price at Family Guest House (recommended by Lonely Planet) and Green Valley Hotel. Refer attached Green Valley GH pricelist.
Package offered by Family GH:
a) single room at $10 (two twin bed)
b)2D1N trekking trip at $35, includes trekking shoes, shower.
Package offered by Green Valley Hotel
a) Dorm $4, Single room at $6 (two twin bed, a bit of )
b) 2D1N trekking trip at $28
My single room for $6
Package offered by Sa pa Queen Hotel
a) 2D1N trekking trip at $25.
After surveying all the prices, i decided to go with Family GH due to its good reputation, and they gave me discount to $28. ( I should actually take the lowest, coz it will be the same.) The lowest in my group was $23, Scott from Canada got it from Mimosa travel. Just compare and get the lowest.
-Met Ah Kuan, lunch and traveled to Cat-cat village by foot.
-Go around Sa Pa city.
-Have an early night and packed for trekking the next day.
3rd day 18/8(Sat)
-8:30am: Breakfast at Family GH.
-9:30am: Trekking to homestay
-1pm: Break for lunch
-3:30pm: Reached homestay.
-7pm: Dinner, chit-chatting.
-10pm: Sleep
4th day, 19/8(Sun)
6am: Woke up when the other group is leaving for early trek. Explore the paddy terrace nearby.
9:30am: Trekking to last village.
1pm: Lunch beside waterfall
3pm: Reached Sa Pa Family GH. Bathe and explore Sa Pa town.
6pm: Van to Lao Cai train station
8:30pm: train to Hanoi.
5th day, 20/8(Mon)
5am: Reach Hanoi, took a Motor-tuk to Vietnam Travel Agency, recommended by Ah Kuan on its low Halong Bay package.
6am: Signed up $52 for 2D1N Ha Long Bay deluxe package (stayed in the boat).
8am: Taken into the van and picked up guests from around Hanoi city.
12pm: Reached harbour at Ha Long Bay. Lunch in the boat.
3pm: Visited a cave.
5pm: Kayaking at Ha Long Bay.
7pm: Dinner
8pm: Check in to the room, chit chat.
6th day 21/8(Tues)
8:30am: Breakfast
9pm: Check out, chit-chat.
1pm: lunch at Halong town.
4:30pm: Reached Hanoi, check into Bodega Hotel.
7pm: Dinner at road side Pho,
10pm: Explore Hanoi night life, discotheque.
7th day 22/8 (Wed)
6am: take local van to Noi Bai Airport
7am: Check in luggage, breakfast, Hanoi-KL
** More photos to come... Please come back again!
