We landed in Hanoi at 11:30pm — which felt like 2:30am back home — and we were absolutely wrecked. All we wanted was to get to our accommodation in Tay Ho, settle in by the lake, and wake up surrounded by cafés and food stalls. But Vietnam had other plans.
During our stopover in Ho Chi Minh City, we got a message from our host saying there was an issue with our booking and they needed to move us “just 1km up the road.” That 1km turned out to be a quiet residential area with no food options, no atmosphere, and definitely not the lively Tay Ho vibe we were expecting. The apartment only had two queen beds for five people, so they squeezed in a stretcher bed that felt like sleeping on a slab of concrete. After one look around, we knew this wasn’t going to work.
We stayed the night, mostly because it was already so late and we were exhausted. First thing in the morning, we packed up and left. We were ready for a fresh start somewhere that actually felt like Hanoi, so we headed straight for Old Quarter.
And honestly, it was the best decision we could’ve made.
Our new apartment was tucked away on the fourth floor, huge and comfortable, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and six king beds. The only thing that made us pause were the stairs. They were so narrow we wondered how we’d get all our luggage up without losing a suitcase (or a child) on the way. Thankfully, our hosts had a pulley system running through the stairwell and hoisted everything up for us. Absolute legends.
Once we settled in, we finally had the chance to explore. We grabbed lunch and stocked up on snacks for the kids, because snacks are basically a survival tool when travelling with kids.
And then came the unexpected highlight of the day: pampering.
Two of the girls got keratin hair treatments, and three of us had gel manicures and pedicures. All up, it cost 7 million VND (about $370 AUD) — an absolute bargain for the amount of work they did. After the chaos of the night before, it felt so good to sit back, relax, and be properly looked after.
Later that evening, we headed out for dinner and chose a fancy‑looking restaurant that seemed promising. The décor was beautiful… the food, not so much. That’s when we learned our first Hanoi food lesson: The places that don’t look the nicest often have the best food. Street stalls, tiny kitchens, plastic stools, that’s where the magic happens.
Back at our apartment, surrounded by endless food options, shops, and the buzzing energy of the Old Quarter, we realised our chaotic start had turned into the perfect beginning. Travel rarely goes to plan, but sometimes the detours lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.
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