We wrapped up our time in Hanoi with two brilliant (and slightly eventful) days packed with culture, history, and a bit of unexpected pool drama. Here’s the story!
Day 1: Women’s Museum & Street Food Delights
First up, we visited the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, one of Hanoi’s most fascinating and underrated spots. If you’re travelling with kids or want a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture, I highly recommend it. The museum is beautifully curated, telling powerful stories of Vietnamese women throughout history from their roles in wartime to traditional family life and craftsmanship.
We especially loved the exhibits on ethnic minority women showcasing their vibrant clothing, customs, and the huge role they play in their communities. There’s also a moving section on the resilience and strength of women during Vietnam’s wars. It’s the kind of place that makes you rethink how history is told.
Why visit?
It’s kid-friendly with interactive displays. Air-conditioned (a win when you’re melting outside!). Only around £1 entry, an absolute bargain for what you get. Great for ethical travel enthusiasts who want to understand Vietnam beyond the usual tourist trail.
After the museum, we tucked into lunch at a Vietnamese spot nearby no name you’d find online, just pure local flavours and buzzing with life. We also managed a tech win by getting Ali’s iPhone battery replaced at a street side repair shop. Fast, cheap (about £12), and it worked perfectly.
(Pro tip: Hanoi is awesome for affordable tech repairs don’t overpay at home if your here!)
Day 2: Citadel Adventures & Poolside Mayhem
Today, we stepped back in time at the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site right in the heart of Hanoi. It’s huge, and the kids loved running around the old fortress walls and peeking into ancient rooms and tunnels.
Highlights?
The Flag Tower, standing tall since the 1800s. Peaceful courtyards perfect for a break in the shade.
We had lunch onsite, and at just £6 for all of us, it was both affordable and surprisingly tasty and aircon was nice after being out in 38degrees. Definitely a handy option if you don’t fancy trekking around looking for food in the heat.
The Pool Incident…
After all that exploring, we chilled back at our Vinhomes apartment and hit the pool to cool off. That’s when Dotty threw us a curveball deciding, mid-swim, that now was the time for a Number Two. Safe to say my dad reflexes kicked in after Ali shouted she’s doing a pooo! I grabbed her, dashed to the loo, sorted the situation, got her showered, and we were back in the pool before anyone was the wiser. No leaks, no disasters… phew! (Parenting while travelling: never a dull moment.)
Next Stop: Sapa!
Tomorrow we’re off on the next leg of the adventure heading north to the stunning mountains of Sapa. Can’t wait to swap the city for rice terraces and fresh mountain air. Stay tuned for that update!
⭐ Quick Tips for Travellers:
The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is a mus do if you want a deeper dive into the culture. Plan 1.5–2 hours.
Citadel of Thăng Long is best early morning before it gets too hot bring water and comfy shoes.
