Halong Bay & Bobby Chinn (Day 2) Hanoi, Vietnam
After all the drama the night before I hope the cab breaks down in the middle of nowhere, we got ready for our pick-up at 7.30am to Halong Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage beauty was one of my main reasons to choose Hanoi as a holiday spot.
The tour van came and we hopped on. It made rounds to the other hotels around the area before starting the trip proper. The way the guides (did I mention they are really nice guys) carried out logistical issues was very efficient to ensure no time was lost. Our guides are 2 local Vietnamese who studied abroad previously so their English is quite good. They made jokes and generally had a good knowledge about the sights that we passed along the way to Halong Bay.
The name Ha Long is derived from Sino- Vietnamese 下龍, which means "descending dragon". Legend has it that the gods sent down dragons to protect the Vietnamese people, the mother dragon and her children. The dragons spit out jewels which formed islands and a means of defense against invaders. After the war, the dragon family decided to stay and with every swish of their tail, a geological spot was formed.
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| Paddy fields on the way to Halong |
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| Local women doing silk embroidery |
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| Some of the merchandise for sale. They can ship it to your home country |
The ship was chugging away towards open waters when lunch was served. I was worried about motion sickness but the sea was calm. Since it was Vietnam's autumn, the breeze was refreshing with cloudy skies.
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Junks of Halong Bay |
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| L- Our junk's mast head. R - The junk's name is Song Bien 19 |
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| One of the dragons? |
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| Fishing boat heading into the pillars of stone |
After the junk maneuvered in between the imposing cliffs, we arrived at the jetty that leads into the Amazing Cave. This cave have been discovered since the French Occupation and since Halong Bay is attracting flies to honey, the local government decided to spruce it up.
Humanswho probably going to wipe the rest of nature out always have some sort of mischief on their hands. You can see graffiti dating back to the times when Vietnam was under the French in the caves. Pour l'art de vivre n'est jamais facile
The guide took us on a walk around the island before heading back to the boat.
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| Amazing Cave |
Humans
The guide took us on a walk around the island before heading back to the boat.
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| Amazing limestone formations |
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| I thought these look like feet hanging over a ledge |
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| Locals with live catch of the day |
The next part of the trip was a kayaking trip around the bay. We docked at Titop Island for the group to collect the life vests and kayaking gear. However, HY can't kayak for nuts. So we decided to take a nap on the deck while the rest of the group went off.
At 4.45pm, the ship left Titop Island and reached Halong City at 5.30pm. The ride back was quiet as everyone decided to take a nap on the way back. It was too dark to look out anyway.
We reached ArtHotel close to 9.00pm. Thanking our guides we rushed back to our room to prepare for dinner. We had reservations at 8pm and we were definitely way past our appointment. HY generally leaves trip planning to me but this was one place he insisted on going, Restaurant Bobby Chinn Hanoi. I blame Asian Food Channel.
The hotel got a cab for us and we quickly made our way to this much-talked about eatery in Hanoi. The restaurant is located in a newer and most expensive part of town. It is quite far away from Old Quarters so don't think about walking not to mention a mad drivers in Hanoi. There were a few other upscale restaurants and boutiques on the same quiet street as Restaurant Bobby Chinn. I guess this is where the yuppies and expat hang out. Restaurant Bobby Chinn is located right at the end of the road. You won't miss the red glow emanating from the doorway.
Thankfully they kept our reservations although I am sure no one would jostle with us after seeing the condition of the restaurant. The restaurant was quite empty and the bars had a couple of souls drinking the night away. Given that it was 10pm at night, we were wondering whether do the crowds in Hanoi keep early nights.
The menu had many interesting puns and quips about how the dish is served. There is even an option for the staff to come over to tell you that "you're beautiful" with a signed copy of the menu if you order a particular side dish. We the whole night long for a fee. We both chose the Western 6 Course Tasting Menu which included:
At 4.45pm, the ship left Titop Island and reached Halong City at 5.30pm. The ride back was quiet as everyone decided to take a nap on the way back. It was too dark to look out anyway.
We reached ArtHotel close to 9.00pm. Thanking our guides we rushed back to our room to prepare for dinner. We had reservations at 8pm and we were definitely way past our appointment. HY generally leaves trip planning to me but this was one place he insisted on going, Restaurant Bobby Chinn Hanoi. I blame Asian Food Channel.
The hotel got a cab for us and we quickly made our way to this much-talked about eatery in Hanoi. The restaurant is located in a newer and most expensive part of town. It is quite far away from Old Quarters so don't think about walking not to mention a mad drivers in Hanoi. There were a few other upscale restaurants and boutiques on the same quiet street as Restaurant Bobby Chinn. I guess this is where the yuppies and expat hang out. Restaurant Bobby Chinn is located right at the end of the road. You won't miss the red glow emanating from the doorway.
Thankfully they kept our reservations although I am sure no one would jostle with us after seeing the condition of the restaurant. The restaurant was quite empty and the bars had a couple of souls drinking the night away. Given that it was 10pm at night, we were wondering whether do the crowds in Hanoi keep early nights.
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| Complimentary bread basket |
- Crab corn soup
- Seared day boat scallops with braised edamame and truffle pea puree
- Squid fettucine, tobiko Creme with wasabi creme fraiche
- Sirloin on mash
- Duck confit with black rice
- Dessert tasting platter consisting of creme brulee, a dumpling made out of chocolate, chocolate mouse and coconut sticky rice
Out of all the dishes I tasted, I enjoyed the scallops and the sirloin. The sirloin was done just the way I liked it and it just melted in the mouth. Although we went for the Western tasting platter, the chef put in an homage to Vietnam through the sticky rice.
Restaurant Bobby Chinn Hanoi
Opening Hours: 11am until late
Address: 77 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Tel: +84 (0) 43 719 2460 / 3934 8577
Email: info@bobbychinn.com
I would say that Bobby Chinn is a nice place to go for a romantic dinner but I am sure there may be others out there. The waiting staff was seen and not heard. Service was really good because after service every dish, they would retreat into an alcove to wait until they are called. Although we were the only diners during that time of night, they did not slack. At the end of the meal, a staff came over to take a photo of us and that photo was patiently waiting for us in our inbox when we got back to Malaysia. There is also a feedback form that continues to reflect the owner's personality where diners would have to decide whether they would rather face a water buffalo than coming back for a dish at Bobby Chinn's. Makes good reading while I sipped my coffee (yes, i must have been crazy for drinking it that late). For USD44, I would say that we got a pretty good meal. It is not a must to stop by here if in Hanoi but if you don't have a clue for dinner, why not?
Oh, and the restaurant called a cab for us back to the hotel. It was a Hanoi Taxi.
Restaurant Bobby Chinn Hanoi
Opening Hours: 11am until late
Address: 77 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Tel: +84 (0) 43 719 2460 / 3934 8577
Email: info@bobbychinn.com
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