6D5N Hanoi - Travelling with Kids (Day 4)

 HAPPY NATIONAL DAY to all vietnamese folks!

Today we check out of Alisa Premier Cruise and land transfer back to our 2nd hotel which is Hotel de l'opera. The ride back to the city was shorter than going there. Probably because we didn't have to make so many stops for the people to get to their hotels.

After we check in our hotel.

- Buy tickets to the water puppet show

- Busk in the no vehicle streets of Hanoi because it's their independence day!

- Take photos along the streets of Hanoi

- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, take photos.

- Eat egg coffee at Cafe Giang (super old little cafe), the kids had the non-caffeine chocolate ones

- Water puppet show

- Dinner Bun Cha and Vietnamese beer!

 Hoan Kiem Lake. Iconic tourist spot in Hanoi.

 Jules catching bubbles on the road. Boys hopping, skipping their way to the theatre to get their Water Puppet Tickets.

 after we purchased our tickets, we went to Cafe Giang. Shows start at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 8pm.

Bun Cha and Viet Beer for dinner!

6D5N Hanoi - Travelling with Kids (Day 3)

Hanoi Day 3
It's a super relax day because it was so rainy and wet. There were many activities planned out for the day if you don't mind getting wet. Straight after breakfast, there was swimming at the beach near by, more cave visiting after lunch and a visit to a pearl farm before dinner. Happy hours and demostration on vietnamese fried spring roll where the ingredients are different from the fresh ones which we made yesterday.

so both my boys and I slept the entire afternoon away straight after breakfast. You can say that we were so tired from all that travelling, transfer and activity from the day before that we slept the entire day away!!!

6D5N Hanoi - Travelling with Kids (Day 2) | Kayaking

After our 1 hour cave visit that required lots of climbing up and in and out of caves, we went back to our rooms to change into our swimming gear for kayaking!

 it's a short transfer from our cruise to a little motor boat to get to the floating kayak station.

life vests, paddles and kayak boats are all provided and part of the itinerary, so you don't have to pay for a single thing. James is 4 years old and although he is very small, but with a life jacket and with hubs paddling throughout the entire journey, our dear little James pretty much enjoyed the ride!

 Jules and myself went into another kayak

Above: Jules paddle until his arm all twisted. I give up trying to teach him how to paddle when he needs to turn.

 Above: James who doesn't need to paddle!

6D5N Hanoi - Travelling with Kids (Day 2)

Good Morning Hanoi!
- Today we are transferring to Halong Bay.
- Stopover for toilet break at souvenir shop and cafe (Hai Duong Province)
- 12 noon: Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbour and check into Alisa Premier Cruise.
- Lunch on board.
- Visit a local cave
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Sundown Happy Hour where drinks are 1 for 1
- Demonstration on how to do a vietnamese spring roll on the top deck
- Dinner
- Squid Fishing
- End of Day 2

 Jules waiting for our coach for transfer to Halong Bay

 bustling street of Hanoi

 stopover at local souvenir store and cafe where we had a chicken burger, sausages and some peanuts.

 Check in ! Buffet style lunch, all part of the package. Drinks are separately charged.

 view of Halong Bay from our room

 Bottle of red wine and fruit platter as a welcome gift. And our toilet has a jaccuzi bathtub!

 Our room comes with a very long and spacious balcony!

 First activity of the day - Limestone Cave visit

 after our cave visits, we did kayaking! Click here cos these photos are taken by our trusty GoPro. Although there were some photos which had a watermark in the centre of the photo but it's quite good already! At least we needn't have to worry about cameras or mobiles getting wet and still able to take some photos!

 Sundown at the upper deck with happy hour!

me and Jules' funny faces

The view of Halong Bay is just amazing. So serene and tranquil. I find it so relaxing and certainly a good break from work. I've been feeling so stressed at work lately as the financial year closing is drawing near and everyone is all nervous about billing, claims and year end bonus....

 The boys making their own Vietnamese Spring Rolls.

The boys totally enjoyed squid fishing even though they didn't manage to catch anything cos apparently Sept is not a good season for squid catching but Alisa Cruise says it's still part of the itinerary that all it's visitors can enjoy.