The seventh day was highly anticipated because the schedule highlighted an official "Vietnam City Tour" organized by IDN. Waking up that morning, I was buzzing with excitement. In my head, I had already pictured the classic tourist experience: a massive, fully air-conditioned tour bus pulling up in front of our accommodation, all of us piling inside, taking up the back seats with my friends, and looking down at the city through large panoramic windows while a guide explained Hanoi's rich history.
However, when the time came to depart, reality threw a little curveball. Instead of a giant tour bus, a fleet of bright cyan Green SM electric vehicles pulled up to pick us up. I’ll admit, for a brief moment, I felt a slight wave of disappointment. It wasn't the grand, unified group tour experience I had pictured. We had to split up into smaller groups to fit into the cars. But as soon as we hit the road, my disappointment quickly faded. The electric cars were incredibly smooth, quiet, and modern. Plus, zipping through Hanoi’s notoriously chaotic traffic in smaller vehicles was actually much faster and more efficient than a bulky bus would have ever been. I quickly adjusted my mindset—it didn't matter how we got there; what mattered were the destinations waiting for us.
A Monument of Respect: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Our first stop of the day was the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, easily one of the most significant and heavily guarded historical landmarks in all of Vietnam. Before arriving, my knowledge of Ho Chi Minh was pretty basic—I just knew him from history books as the revolutionary leader and the founding father of modern Vietnam. But physically standing in the massive Ba Dinh Square changed how I viewed him.
The atmosphere around the Mausoleum was entirely different from the rest of Hanoi. The chaotic honking and tangled mess of motorcycles were replaced by absolute silence, pristine cleanliness, and strict order. The area was dominated by vast open spaces, perfectly manicured lawns, and imposing government buildings. Inside the imposing granite structure lay the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh, who passed away in 1969. Watching the visitors, I could feel the immense weight of the respect the Vietnamese people held for him. Everyone spoke in hushed tones and maintained a highly respectful demeanor. Being there was a humbling reminder that traveling isn't just about hunting for good food or aesthetic photo spots; it’s about understanding the deep-rooted history, the struggles, and the influential figures that built the country you are walking on.
A Familiar Oasis: Midday at Al-Noor Mosque By midday, the Hanoi sun was beating down on us relentlessly. To escape the sweltering heat and stick to our religious obligations, we made our way back to a familiar spot: the Al-Noor Mosque. Even though we had just been there the day before for Friday prayers, returning as part of our city tour schedule felt comforting. It had become a sort of spiritual oasis for us in the middle of a non-Muslim city.
We performed our Dhuhr prayers, drank some much-needed water, and found comfortable spots on the carpet to rest our tired legs. We spent about an hour just chilling, chatting quietly, and recharging our energy. It was a nice, peaceful pause before diving back into the heat. We stayed at the mosque until around 3:00 PM before gearing up for our next major destination.
The Thrill of Train Street: A Game of Patience Next up was the location I had been looking forward to the most: the legendary Hanoi Train Street. I had seen countless viral videos and photos of this place on social media. The concept of a massive, heavy train barrelling through a ridiculously narrow residential alley, right past the doorsteps of local houses and cafes, sounded both terrifying and fascinating. I couldn't wait to see it with my own eyes.
When we arrived, the alley was already buzzing with tourists from all over the world, all holding their cameras, waiting for the spectacle. My original plan was to catch the 3:20 PM train. I had practically been counting down the minutes, eager to capture the perfect video. Unfortunately, due to traffic and the timing of our walk, we arrived just a little too late. We completely missed the afternoon train. When I realized it, I felt a sharp sting of disappointment. The next train wasn't scheduled to pass through until 5:30 PM, meaning we had a two-hour wait ahead of us.
But looking back, that two-hour wait ended up being a blessing in disguise. Instead of just rushing in and out, we were forced to truly absorb the environment. We walked up and down the tracks, taking photos, admiring the quirky, tiny cafes squeezed against the walls, and observing how the locals went about their daily lives just inches away from active railway tracks.
When 5:30 PM finally approached, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Cafe owners suddenly started blowing whistles, yelling at tourists to stand up, move their chairs, and press themselves flat against the walls. The low, distant rumble of the train slowly transformed into a deafening roar. When the locomotive finally appeared around the bend, my heart started racing. It was massive. The distance between the speeding train and my face was literally just a few feet. I could feel the strong wind, the intense heat radiating from the engine, and the heavy vibration shaking the ground beneath my feet. It was an absolute adrenaline rush. Seeing it on a phone screen is one thing, but feeling the sheer force of it up close was unbelievable. Train Street easily secured its spot as the most thrilling experience of the trip.
A Peaceful Evening at Hoan Kiem Lake After our ears stopped ringing from the train, we made our way to our final destination: Hoan Kiem Lake. Located right in the cultural heart of Hanoi, this lake offered a massive contrast to the loud, adrenaline-pumping environment of Train Street. As the sun began to set, the area around the lake came alive in a very peaceful way. The water was surrounded by large, weeping willow trees, illuminated walking paths, and beautiful historic structures. It was fascinating to see such a tranquil, natural sanctuary existing right in the epicenter of a rapidly modernizing city. Locals were jogging, elderly groups were practicing Tai Chi, and tourists were casually strolling around the water.
Knowing that our time in Vietnam was slowly coming to an end, I used this free time to hunt for souvenirs. I wanted to bring a piece of this adventure back home for my family. After browsing through several vibrant souvenir shops around the lake, I finally picked out a beautiful, Vietnam-themed keychain specifically for my younger sibling. It was a small, inexpensive item, but it held a lot of weight for me. It wasn't just a piece of metal; it was a physical anchor to the memories, the independence, and the challenges I had conquered during my first international backpacking trip. Every time I would look at it in the future, it would remind me of these exact moments.
Wrapping Up a Perfect Day By the time the sky turned completely dark, we regrouped and headed back to our accommodation. My legs were aching, my shirt was sweaty, but my mind was incredibly satisfied. We had covered so much ground in a single day.
We slipped right back into our nightly routine—taking turns in the shower, cooking and eating dinner together, and gathering for our evening halaqah. That night, our reflections were deep. We talked about the history we learned, the thrill of the train, and how grateful we were to experience this together. By 9:00 PM, the lights were out. My body was completely exhausted, but my heart was overflowing with happiness. This trip was constantly teaching me that true growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone, and I couldn't wait to see what the remaining days had in store for us.