Vietnam 7-Day Itinerary: Day Five

7 Day Itinerary in Vietnam

Read Day 1 here - Ho Chi Minh City
Read Day 2 here - HCMC
Read Day 3 here - Mekong Delta
Read Day 4 here - Hanoi
Read Day 5 here - Hanoi to Halong
Read Day 6 and 7 here - Halong Bay/Departure

Drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay

Day 5

In the morning we went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which I suggest going early because of the long queue. We were there before 9am and the queue was already starting to grow. As you get nearer to the mausoleum, you have to file in in pairs. No talking or photography was allowed and there was a somber feeling as people gazed at his body in the glass and wood box.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Nearby the mausoleum is the HCM Museum, Presidential Palace, HCM's old residence, and the One Pillar Pagoda. All of these have admission fee of VND 10,000 to 20,000. This vicinity was the most well maintained place that I went to in Vietnam and it goes to show where the resources of the country is invested.

Next to HCM's house

Guard in front of HCM's tree house

Statue of HCM in his museum

Then we drove for 5.5 hours straight from Hanoi to Halong. Normally it can be done in 4-5 hours but there was a traffic jam which slowed us down. By the time we got there it was evening so we just went to the hotel to rest and then eat dinner.

We stayed at Halong Star Hotel and it is inexpensive but do not stay here. The towels were ripped and grey, bedsheets were dirty and there was an ant problem. We felt extremely uncomfortable staying here.

End of Day 5!

Read Day 1 here - Ho Chi Minh City
Read Day 2 here - HCMC
Read Day 3 here - Mekong Delta
Read Day 4 here - Hanoi
Read Day 5 here - Hanoi to Halong
Read Day 6 and 7 here - Halong Bay/Departure