Itchy Feet

Hanoi Old Quarter

It's five days to go before my birthday and only four more days until my most awaited birthday getaway, yay! My twin sister and I usually plan our birthday trip a year in advance and book our flight at least 2 or 3 months before our birthday month but this year we got really busy so we just booked our flight last month, would you believe it? We're just lucky that there are still cheap airfares left. 

Our trip to Hongkong last year was quite enjoyable but I think it's best for families with kids since there are several attractions for kids to enjoy in HK. I thought that our trip to Cambodia last 2014 is far better (in my opinion) since I'm a fan of ancient structures and I find Siem Reap more picturesque. This year, my sister and I agreed that the Old Quarter area in Hanoi, Vietnam is the best destination to spend our birthday because we were awed by how rich the culture is plus we're traveling on a budget and according to our research, this is one of the best places to visit for backpackers since the cost of accommodation and food is reasonably cheap.

The Wings Transit Hotel Twin Room
at NAIA T3

Hanoi flights are usually late in the evening or wee hours of the morning so as much as I don't like flying at night because I cannot see anything, I guess I just have to deal with it (snort). I'm not a night owl but I like sleeping late for some reason, just not flying y' know. It's best to arrive early at the airport so we thought about arriving around 3PM and just spend a few hours at the The Wings Transit Lounge located at the 4th level of NAIA T3. I didn't realize that a lounge like this exists at the airport hadn't I checked for hotels that offer hourly rates within the airport area. If you want to know what I'm talking about you may visit their website at http://jipang-group.com/thewings/ . We booked a twin room for 3 hours at Php1,800 which is quite expensive for a few hours stay but it's better than booking a hotel room where you pay the daily rate regardless if you stay less than 24 hours plus you are at the comfort of the airport so you don't have to worry about missing your flight and getting stuck in the middle of traffic. 

Vietnamese Dong

Before traveling to another country, it's best to bring local money but there are instances that the currency may not be available, not even in black market so just have your cash handy and have it exchanged at the airport or at the hotel when you get there. Fyi, Vietnamese Dong is quite hard to find we even scoured the black market looking for it but to no avail or bring US dollars instead.

I still have a lot of packing to do and I don't want to get too excited. My oh my. I'll see you soon Hanoi!