Our girls today - Ruby, Mary, and Tonet - are best friends from the Philippines and each other’s perfect travel buddies. Having traveled together to many places, they chose Vietnam as their next adventure spot, and wow, did they make the most of it!
Together, we spent a day exploring Hanoi, from the serene Hoàn Kiếm Lake and historic Ngọc Sơn Temple to the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, Hỏa Lò Prison and Cửa Bắc Parish Church.
Everywhere we went, we shared stories and laughter like lifelong friends. Cream, our guide, had a blast listening to their stories and was so touched by their excitement: "We really enjoyed today's tour. Even with only 2 hours of sleep, we still had a great time!”
Now, let’s dive into our day and see all the sweet moments we captured! 📸💛
This is how our girls travel: dragging each other into prison! 😂 The historic Hỏa Lò Prison, that is!
At Hỏa Lò, each of them stamped a ‘Đồng Song’ mark on their hand. This phrase, meaning ‘together in the iron bars,’ was how Vietnamese political prisoners once referred to one another. What a lasting ‘tattoo’ and a unique memory to take home from this historic spot!
What’s better than sipping coffee with a view of the lake on a crisp autumn day? Here, Ruby, Mary, and Tonet shared how they planned their Vietnam trip with Cream. Ruby said, 'I’m the main planner, Tonet adds ideas, and Mary just follows along.' Now, isn’t that spot-on? 😂
Can you guess where our girls are exploring next? It’s a place filled with history and some surprises!
And here’s the answer! The backdrop here showcases wartime Hanoi with bomb shelters and bunkers - the one and only Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. A moment frozen in history! 🕍
No trip here is complete without descending into the bomb shelter! Our girls were shocked by the depth (and the stairs they’d need to climb!) but took on the challenge with wide-eyed excitement. 😂
These pieces may be decades old, but they’re full of stories from another time. Capturing these moments with pieces of Hanoi’s past felt like stepping back in time. 🕰️🍂
Did you know that the lotus is Vietnam’s national flower? But this photo has more than just the lotus, look closely and you’ll spot the Hanoi Flag Tower in the distance. Can you see it? 😉
No city tour is complete without delicious food! Bún chả was on the menu, and it was beyond tasty! Our girls loved every bite! 🍜🤤
The golden words read 'Ngọc Sơn Temple - Special National Monument.' Just like our three girls: special and especially adorable! 💕😍
Crossing the bridge felt like stepping into a different world. The Ngọc Sơn Temple on the other side was calm and scenic, perfect for a moment of reflection (and a quick photo op!) 🥰
Check out our Hanoi Eat & Explore tour details by following this link!
Ngoc Anh (Ice)
Beyond Vietnam
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