Vietnam Settling In: Train Street, and First Explorations of Hanoi

Our first couple of days in Vietnam have been a perfect mix of easing in and starting to explore. After the travel day, we deliberately kept things simple to recharge. We started at the Lotte Centre, which was a big hit with the kids Dotty and Georgia were in their element at the soft play, climbing, sliding, and bouncing around while Ali did some shopping and I enjoyed a well earned coffee break. The place was spotless and well run, making it an easy win for a family morning.

We stayed for lunch at the food court, where there were loads of great options. We went for rice bowls and noodles simple, delicious, and cheap. What really stood out was just how many vegetarian choices were on offer. It’s clear already that Vietnam really caters for everyone, which is a massive relief for Ali, finally! After lunch, we took a slow wander through some nearby side streets. They reminded us a bit of Peru narrow lanes, scooters zipping everywhere, and a bit of organised chaos but honestly, way cleaner and a more relaxed, which made it a really enjoyable stroll. We wrapped up the day with an easy evening back at the apartment, ready for a bit more adventure the next day.

The following day we dived a bit deeper into Hanoi. We made our way over to the Old Quarter, which is every bit as busy and buzzing as you’d expect full of tight alleyways, little shops, and the constant soundtrack of scooters honking. The highlight was heading to the famous Train Street, where we managed to catch the train rumbling through right up close. It’s wild seeing a full sized train squeeze through such a narrow street with people just stepping back inches from the track it’s one of those iconic Hanoi moments you’ve got to see to believe. Honestly, if you do nothing else here, we’d well recommend making time for Train Street it’s a crazy experience.

After that, we wandered over to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, home to the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple. It’s a lovely spot right in the middle of the city peaceful despite the traffic and noise around it, and a nice place to let the kids run about a bit while we soaked in the views. To top it off, we treated ourselves to ice cream at Häagen-Dazs before heading back for a chilled evening.

All in all, a brilliant start to our time here Hanoi’s got a great vibe already, and we’re excited to see what’s next!