Hello hello. I'm finally back with another post.
Do you like my new blog template? I'm liking it for now. Clean tidy little Barney.
This will be first post about Hanoi. Yes, we went to Vietnam around April to celebrate my hubby's birthday and the weather was fantastic, cooling at the right temperature. 3 hours flight from Malaysia. The flight ticket cost RM500 per pax two ways including luggage. Not so bad I think.
Oh yes, before I forgot, taking a flight on Monday in LCCT was horrendous. Madness crowd, everyone is cutting queue, every line is full, just madness. We thought we wouldn't be able to make it to boarding but of course, we did (all the dramas aside). Note to self, no more Monday flight.
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| Only one daily flight to Hanoi |
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| Dozing off. This was captured by hubby |
I came across this hotel in Tripadvisor and the reviews were kind of good or may I say too good to be true since its only a small boutique hotel. So we booked 3 nights with Meracus 1 Hotel located in Old Quarter (shoes street) but one of the night we will be staying in Halong Bay Junk so the hotel help us to babysit our luggage.
We also engaged transportation from airport to hotel (USD18). Hanoi is quite well-known of taxi scam. If you do not do your homework in advance, the taxi will bring to "tour" around before charging crazy price based on the meters. Know your price and know your route distances.
Travelling Advice in Hanoi (Given by the hotel)
1. How to cross roads?
- Be relaxed and self-confident
- Look two ways and make eye-contact with drivers (well, there were practical a few hundreds motorbike riding through and I didn't know who to make eye contact with. Just walk without looking at them)
- Walk slowly with a purpose (Yup, just keep going...)
- Never step back or reverse (This is so crucial, just keep walking straight and they will know how to avoid you)
2. How to get away from pushy vendors?
- Do not touch anything if you do not intend to buy
- Do not talk to them or smile
- Keep walking (away!)
3. How to bargain in markets?
- Check the item(s) carefully before buying
- As for the rate
- Say 50% off what they say, then negotiate for the best you can
4. How to get away from street risks?
- Do not walk alone in the streets after 23:00 (Honestly, it is still much safer compare to Malaysia)
- Do not bring your passport(s) out when going outside
- Do not wear too much jewelry or you will become a target
- Keep your bags/camera close
- Be careful of your cellphone while using it on the street
Upon arrival, the staffs were so friendly and helpful. First, they took care of our luggage and lead us to the waiting/lobby area. Few minutes later, they provided us a relatively simple but very useful and user friendly map (sight seeing, recommended restaurants, famous streets and etc).
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| Lobby/ Waiting area |
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| Welcome drink |
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| Very grand looking hotel |
We both have traveled quite a bit from 2 stars to 5 stars hotel and this hotel gave us one of the best experience and service so far! Location was excellent, situated in the old quarters whereby there are many restaurants, cafes and water puppet show theater was only a few stones behind the hotel. On the same day that we checked-in, we also booked a Halong Bay Tour (2Days 1 night) through Meracus 1. I will talk more on that in another post. The room was a good size, clean and value for money. The rain shower was excellent too with some body spray thingy.
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| Deluxe room |
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| So sweet |
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| Complimentary fruits, mineral water and laptop for free Internet surfing |
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| Hoan Kiem Lake surrounding (10 mins walk from hotel) |
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| Breakfast spread |
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| My eye-bags-ception |
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| Last day gifts. We appreciate it so much |
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| Sticky rice with bean paste. Hotel staff were so helpful and helped us buy when they know we wanted to get it |
On the last day, there was a minor hiccup. Our transport to airport was 15 mins late and in the end we took the taxi that hotel called for us. Morning rush hour was CRAZY! Please go to airport earlier if you have international morning flight. We made it home so not an issue to us.
However, after we got home, my hubby received an email from the hotel apologizing profusely and insisted on refunding us the taxi fare and promised that it will never happen again to us and other hotel guests. How can we take the money? Of course we refused cause the email alone already meant they really CARE even though we no longer staying there. To us, this hiccup does not hinder us from having the best experience in Meracus1 (This is not a sponsored review).
Meracus Hotel 1
11, Hang Dzau, Hoan Kiem Hanoi
Tel: 844 3926 4936
Website: www.meracushotel.com
Email: info@meracushotel.com
