Day One in Hanoi: Tired, Hungry, and Wide-Eyed in the Old Quarter

Our journey to Hanoi was a true test of endurance. We arrived at 12:45 a.m., and after a long flight, we finally reached our hotel in the bustling Old Quarter around 2 a.m. The exhaustion was real — three hours of sleep was all we could muster before our bodies and minds woke up, fueled by excitement, hunger, and that irresistible craving for coffee.

Half-asleep, we stumbled out of our hotel into the lively chaos of a vegetable market. The sights, sounds, and smells of fresh produce around us were a sensory overload, but our stomachs were already calling for breakfast. Not far away, we found a small stall selling banh mi, the street-style sandwiches we had been craving. They weren’t exactly what we were expecting — no strong coffee in sight — but they hit the spot.

With our bellies slightly satisfied, we set out toward Hoan Kiem Lake, a serene oasis amidst the city’s vibrancy. Our energy still held up as we explored Ngoc Son Temple, perched on the lake. Inside, the temple was beautiful and peaceful, but fatigue started to catch up with us as we wandered around. My body ached from head to toe, and Melissa felt dizzy. It was clear that the sleep deprivation was taking its toll.

Despite the tiredness, we were determined to see the Saint Joseph Cathedral, a stunning example of French colonial architecture. We found a nearby place to eat — steaming bowls of Pho, spring rolls, and a cold Hanoi Bia — the perfect comfort food after a long, exhausting night.

Our sense of direction was already compromised; I swear my internal compass was broken. We wandered in circles trying to find a reputable money exchange with good rates. Instead, we settled for one with worse rates than the airport bank — a reminder that tiredness makes everything more confusing. We almost collapsed on the street, contemplating whether to hail a taxi, but somehow, we kept going.

We made it back to our hotel, utterly exhausted. Both of us were ready to just fall flat on the bed, but curiosity got the better of us. Still, we insisted on checking out Hanoi’s famous Train Street. We grabbed some overpriced drinks, lined up for the experience, and waited for the train to pass through the narrow alley. When it finally did, it was a shock — a rush of adrenaline and awe as the train roared past mere inches from us. In our overwhelmed state, we both forgot to video the event and instead pressed the wrong keys on our phones, missing the moment altogether.

With our energy completely drained, it was time to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day of adventure in Hanoi — hopefully a bit more rested and ready to explore. But tonight, we sleep, dreaming of what’s to come in this vibrant city.