Cyclo

This Vietnamese 3-wheeled iconic means of transport is a must-try. For VND75,000, one can get driven around the old quarter for an hour. And they drop you off where they picked you up too. I suggest you go for the company-run cyclo service (pronounced as sik-lo) rather than those individuals who own their own vehicles and ply around the city looking for a tourist to rip-off. The best one is stationed in the park beside Metropole Hotel.

The route is typically towards Trang Tein Plaza, then to the lake, then rightward to the old quarter. After about 30 minutes in the old quarter streets, they will take eastward almost to Tran Quang Khai St. (a highway of sort), but will turn right before that and take you infront of BIDV Tower and VietComBank Tower (after BIDV Tower you will see the famous Khazanna Restaurant where you can get Halal food). Then the drive goes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then to the street where the embassy of Italy is located. That street goes straight to Angelina Bar, which is actually the corner of the Opera Wing of Hotel Metropole. This is where you get off the 3-wheeled wonder!

By the way, you can ask for a driver who ...er..."tieng anh it lam" (speaks a little English).