Landing Drill

Our flight from Manila landed in Hanoi just after 1 a.m. — that strange hour when you’re too tired to be excited but too wired to sleep. Clearing customs was surprisingly easy; we weren’t even asked to show our electronic visas.

Practical Tip: Vietnam e-Visa

• You need a visa to enter Vietnam, and most travelers can apply online up to three months before arrival.
• You can choose between a single-entry visa (USD 25) or a multiple-entry visa (USD 50). Both can be issued for up to 90 days. Even if you plan to stay for a shorter time, it can be worth applying for the full 90 days — it gives you flexibility and avoids the potential hassle of a renewal.
• When applying, you’ll need to specify your points of entry and exit, so it helps to have your itinerary reasonably finalized beforehand.
• It’s also wise not to schedule your departure for the very last day of your visa. Leaving a one- or two-day buffer can save a lot of stress if a flight is delayed or canceled.
• You’ll need a copy of your passport and a recent photo. The photo doesn’t have to be taken professionally — a clear phone photo is fine, as long as it follows the guidelines on the official website. Starting the application earlier rather than later gives you time to deal with any unexpected issues.

We had booked a night near the airport, mostly because the accommodation advertised an airport shuttle. At that hour, the last thing I wanted was to figure out transportation. That hope didn’t last long. Shortly before arrival, the host messaged to say the shuttle only runs until 11 p.m. So, Grab it was.

While I was trying to find a spot with enough signal to order a ride, a man approached us and asked where we were going. My phone data wasn’t working yet, so I showed him the address instead. It was less than two kilometers away. He claimed to be a Grab driver and even showed me the Grab app on his phone displaying 300,000 VND, as if to prove it was a normal rate for a ride from Hanoi airport. Luckily, I had checked earlier that a Grab ride all the way to central Hanoi — nearly 30 kilometers — costs around 250,000 VND. I declined and started connecting to the airport Wi-Fi to order a car myself. He stayed close, repeatedly insisting, until we moved outside.

Sure enough, once Grab finally worked, the ride cost just 65,000 VND.

It was a clear reminder of how easily tired, jet-lagged travelers can be taken advantage of, especially late at night and in a country where the currency still feels unfamiliar. A bit of research beforehand goes a long way.

Breakfast Mission

Our room near the airport felt enormous after weeks of smaller island accommodations, and we managed to get a decent night’s sleep. Thanks to that, we didn’t head out for breakfast until close to 10 a.m.

That’s when we hit our first small snag: every place Google Maps suggested nearby was closed. The area wasn’t touristy, and food options were limited. We wandered the streets for a while before noticing plastic chairs and low tables set up in what looked like someone’s yard. A few people were sitting and eating, so we cautiously approached.

This was our first real encounter with everyday Vietnam — and with the reality that English isn’t widely spoken outside tourist areas. Google Translate became our lifeline.

We asked if we could eat there and were met with smiles and nods. Encouraged by this first success, I added through the app that we don’t eat rice or noodles.

The response was an astonished silence.

The idea of a meal without rice or noodles seemed almost incomprehensible. After a bit of back-and-forth, we settled on fried eggs.

Our host kept replenishing the greens as we ate and even brought out bananas as a finishing touch. Simple as it was, this breakfast turned out to be a deeply satisfying introduction to Vietnamese food — and to Vietnamese hospitality, all for 60,000 VND for two.

Base Camp

After breakfast, we checked out and ordered a Grab to our apartment in Hanoi. The ride cost 292,000 VND, as we were staying beyond the city center.

Our first impressions of Hanoi came through the car windows. After the chaotic traffic of Manila, the city felt — if not calm — at least more measured. Still busy, but less frantic.

When we arrived, it felt good to have a place to settle into for four weeks. Our one-bedroom apartment was bright, comfortable, and well equipped for our long term stay — a welcome sense of space after weeks of moving around.

Located on the third floor of an elegant eight-story building in a non-touristy residential neighborhood of Hanoi, it was surrounded by cafés and small eateries, offering a front-row seat to local life in close quarters.

For all of that — including five days a week of cleaning and unlimited drinking water — the apartment cost 1,168 CAD for four weeks, which felt like excellent value for the kind of stay we wanted.

Obstacle Course

Almost immediately, two things stood out in Hanoi. At first, they were amusing novelties, but within days, they became mildly exhausting.

The first was walking.

Hanoi has wide, attractive streets with an almost European feel, but walking them can be surprisingly tricky.

Restaurants and cafés spill onto the sidewalks with low plastic stools and tables, filled with locals eating, drinking, and socializing. What little space remains is usually taken up by parked motorbikes. Between outdoor seating and rows of bikes, there’s often no room left for pedestrians. Walking on the road becomes the default rather than the exception.

Sometimes, it feels almost intentional. A karaoke club next to our apartment had three or four men sitting on plastic chairs, drinking tea or beer — right across the sidewalk, blocking the way. Elsewhere, advertising boards jutted into the path, similarly obstructing pedestrians. One of our tour guides later explained that many people see the sidewalk along their building as an extension of their property, not as city space for walking.

The second — closely related — was motorbikes.

They’re everywhere: parked, idling, weaving through traffic in steady streams.

Honking is constant, but it isn’t anger or impatience. It’s communication: I’m coming through — take note.

Crossing the street as a pedestrian feels terrifying at first. Cars and motorbikes don’t stop — not at crosswalks, not at green lights. The trick is simple: step off the curb, keep moving slowly and steadily, and trust that traffic will flow around you like water around rocks. Don’t wait for a gap that will never come. Avoid sudden stops or unpredictable moves. Some locals even raise a hand while crossing — their version of honking.

In the beginning, it’s a shock. Then, almost without realizing it, you adapt. But let’s be honest: it’s still pretty annoying.

Mission Accomplished

By the end of our first day in Hanoi, we felt a mix of exhaustion and excitement. In just 24 hours, we had navigated an airport scam, negotiated our first meal without rice, and learned how to walk — and cross — the city streets.

It was a crash course in local life, an intense first immersion into Hanoi’s rhythms, quirks, and challenges. We survived — and in doing so, gained a first real sense of how the city works. Now, we were ready to start exploring.

Practical Tips for Surviving Your First Day in Hanoi

• Airport transport: Grab is usually the easiest option, but sometimes it can be hard to get one late at night. In that case, use an official taxi and research approximate fare ranges in advance to avoid scams. It’s always a good idea to ask your hotel or host how much the ride should cost.
• Currency awareness: To make the transition to a new currency easier, install a currency converter app on your phone. This way, you can quickly check if local prices are reasonable.
• Language barrier: Google Translate is a lifesaver in Vietnam. If you don’t have mobile data, install an offline version. While locals are skilled at using translator apps, they still appreciate it if you learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases like “thank you” and “hello.”
• Street navigation: Crossing streets in Vietnam can feel intimidating, but there are simple rules to make it easier. Don’t expect traffic to stop for you; move with purpose, keep a steady pace, and avoid stopping or changing direction while crossing. Be aware that motorbikes turning left may not wait for you, even on a green light.