Hanoi is so awesome. It’s a city of chaos that works somehow and that has all the Vietnamese street food you can imagine. You can spend days after days just wandering around and trying as many dishes as you can.
The nightlife there is awesome because you can drink cheap beer and enjoy the cool atmosphere of the city.

Where to sleep in Hanoi?

If you are looking for a place that will cost you about $14 per night, then I recommend Hanoi Home Hotel.

If you’re traveling with a larger budget and can afford $50 per night, I recommend Romance Hotel.

Free tour in the old quarter

Hanoi Free Tours is a company that offers free tours (based on tips). The guides there are Vietnamese students who work in this company in order to practice their English and to earn some money.

Our guide was an 18-year-old guy that speaker English really well. The tour was for about 3 hours. We were the only ones in this tour (just me and Roman) so it was like a private tour and it was awesome.

Our guide told us about the history of Hanoi and Vietnam in general, he knew a lot of stuff. He shared with us stories about the way he lives. We asked him many questions and he was so nice and answered everything. He even took us to his favorite place to eat sandwiches and to a hidden gem to drink coffee with a view to the lake. He also gave us tips and recommendations.
I really recommend this type of tour. The company offers other tours too, like in the French quarter or a food tour.

Water park inside a mall – Vinpearl Water Park

Update from 2024 : the waterpark closed permanently

A great option for a rainy day. It’s a great way to spend your day. I wrote more about it in the post “Water Park Inside a Mall in Hanoi, Vietnam”. Also, in the mall there are other activities, like 3d movies and ice skating so those are also great options

A Snake meal in the Snake Village

An amazing, exotic, and tasty experience. If you are looking for an adventurous meal this is something you have to try. The whole experience is unforgettable. We went there with an Austrian couple we met in Tam Coc and we had an amazing time. You can read more about it in the post “Exotic and Unforgettable Snake Meal in the Snake Village Hanoi Vietnam”

Wander around the old quarter and try local food

The streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi are magical. They’re so crowded and with so much noise and everywhere you look there is street food and local restaurants which are the charm of Hanoi. I can’t describe it in words. You have to be there to understand. Some people hate it and think it’s too noisy, but I fell in love with this city the moment my feet stepped on it.

If you love street food you will get lost with all the profusion of options. Just explore the city and try everything you see 🙂

Help the locals practice their English

Another cool thing about Hoan Kiem Lake, is if you sit there, there is a big chance that a local student will approach you and ask if they can practice their English with you. I met a cute girl in high school and we talked for about 20 minutes. I asked her about her life and she asked me about Israel and it was awesome. We took selfies 🙂 She was so nice and very shy and I really liked this opportunity to talk with a local and also to help her with her English.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

A really interesting museum about Vietnamese Women during the years. It’s about the women in the Vietnamese war, about the way they raised their kids, and much more. What we loved about this museum is that you get an audio headphone in the entrance and in each display you can hear in the headphones the story about it. It makes it more realistic and more detailed. Like with a tour guide.

Ticket price: about 2.5 usd including the audio headphones

Address: 36 Lý Thường Kiệt, Hang Bai ward, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Opening hours: every day 08:00-17:00

Phone: +84 4 3825 9129

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The museum gives information about Vietnam and all its ethnic groups. It has really interesting displays including different houses and buildings in the gardens. The museum offers a real insight into the cultural and family aspects of the Vietnamese people.

Price ticket; about 2 usd

Address: Nguyễn Văn Huyên, Nghĩa Đô, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 08:30-17:30. Closed on Monday

Phone: +84 4 3756 2192

Hoan Kiem Lake

This is the main lake in Hanoi. We really loved to buy cold coffee or a fruit shake for take-away and to go to sit near the lake. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. You can spend hours just sitting there

There are more things to do in Hanoi, many museums, many types of tours and many, many food options. I really recommend to come to this city with an open mind and to focus on the unique experience that you won’t have anywhere else in the world. Just one last tip, when you cross the road, walk fast, straight forward and don’t stop in the middle 🙂

Two years ago, when Roman was in Vietnam, someone that he met in Hanoi recommended him to go to a snake village to eat a snake. The village is about 10 km from Hanoi. Roman loves exotic food, so he decided to follow this recommendation.

When he returned from there he told me that is was one of the best and most unique meals he had ever had.
When we traveled in Vietnam not too long ago, I decided that I wanted to go and try it by myself. Because if it’s so good there wasn’t a chance I was going to miss it.

We met a really awesome Austrian couple in our guesthouse in Tam Coc (Chez Beo guesthouse) and after returning to Hanoi from Tam Coc, we offered them to join us to try the meal.

They agreed 🙂

The four of us took a taxi together to the snake village. It’s called Snake Village because there are several restaurants there that offer a snake meal.
The village was pretty abandoned and we felt like we were in a ghost town. But maybe it was because it was pretty late.

We went to a different restaurant than the one that Roman visited last time, he couldn’t remember the restaurant’s name.
The restaurant that we went to was called Nguyen van duc snake restaurant

Choosing your own snake

When we arrived at the restaurant they first showed us several snakes (alive) and told us to choose the one that we wanted to eat.
We chose a Cobra snake, because it was pretty big and it would be enough for the four of us.

It costs 150 USD. Yes, for Vietnam it’s a lot of money but the price depends on the size of the snake, and also it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience (or twice, like for Roman)

The snake meal

Afterwards they took us to sit upstairs. The restaurant was almost full and everyone was dressed really nicely.
We were the only non-local people and we were dressed like a backpackers.

Everyone stared at us when we entered the room. Not sure if it was because of the clothes or if it was because they were not used to seeing non-local people there.
We received a menu that showed all the dishes that we were going to get. Each dish was made from another organ of the snake. There were nine different dishes.

We also got a wine snake. We drank a shot and the dishes started to arrive.

Snake’s heart still beating

The weirdest thing was that we received at the table was a shot with the snake’s heart still beating in its blood.

Roman drank it last time, so this time he told our friend to drink it. And he did. He said it was ok and I think that the snake wine also helped him.

The experience and the meal itself

Yes, I know, the whole experience sounds pretty gross, but I have to say that except for the beating heart, all the dishes looked appealing and the taste was incredible.

Each dish was cooked differently and each one was really delicious.
If I hadn’t seen the snake before that I wouldn’t have guessed that the meat was from a snake.

It tasted like a combination of beef and chicken.
The whole experience was really unique. We had a great time with our friends from Austria and also the snake wine helped us get into the atmosphere

If you are an exotic food lover or an adventurous person, I really recommend you to try it. It’s worth the money and it’s something you will never forget.
It’s unbelievable.

Pin below to save on Pinterest 

Update in 2024 – the water park is permanently closed

During our stay in Hanoi, it rained for several days, so we searched for indoor things that we could do. After being in 2 museums we looked for something else.
After many searches online we found the perfect option.

An underground Water Park inside a mall
Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

We took a local bus (using the moovit app) because it’s really cheap, but you can also take a taxi if you prefer.

Water park in Hanoi

We went there in the middle of the week, because we read that it’s much less crowded and also the ticket price is cheaper.

The ticket costs 5 usd instead of 9 usd and we were about 10 people in the entire place!!! It was awesome.

There were two slides that were closed (because we were only 10 people), but all the other facilities worked and there were several really cool slides anyhow. Tube slide, slide with a mattress, and one very scary slide where you stand inside a capsule and suddenly it opens from the bottom and you fall into the slide. I was so scared that I started to shake in the capsule 🙂 But I did it anyhow and it was great. Roman did it about 10 times.
There‘s also a wave pool and more facilities.

More details about the waterpark in Hanoi

Water park name: Vinpearl Water Park Hanoi

Address

Street, Thuong Dinh Ward, District Floor B1 R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam, 443/72 Nguyễn Trãi, Thanh Xuân, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Phone: +84 1900 6677

Opening hours: every day 09:30-18:30

Ticket price: weekend 9usd, weekday 5 usd

I recommend calling the park before going, because there have been times that it’s been closed for reconstruction.

Ayutthaya was the old capital of Thailand from 1350-1767. It’s located 80 km north from Bangkok.

The city was ruined in one night in 1767 and since then there have been ruins of palaces and temples. The ruins are beautiful and each place has its own magic. The atmosphere in this city is different than in any regular city because of the ruins.

If you are staying in Bangkok, you should consider a visit there and even spend a night or two.

Lodging in Ayutthaya

How to arrive to Ayutthaya from Bangkok

The minivan was the most convenient way for us but the way back by train was a unique local experience. I love to feel the same as the locals and to experience how they live. It’s not always comfortable, but I think it’s the way to experience the country you visit.

Things to do in Ayutthaya

Wander around between the ruins

you can explore the area with bikes, by foot, or by taxi/tuk-tuk. We took the bikes and explored the area with them. We didn’t succeed to see all the ruins but we chose some that we thought would be interesting to see (we read a little bit about them in order to see what would interest us). The bikes were not in the best condition (we took them from our guesthouse), but they did the job. If it’s hot I recommend you to start the exploring as early as you can.

Ayutthaya is so different from Bangkok, the islands, and the north. It’s more relaxing, less touristic and with an ancient atmosphere. We enjoyed it very much. It was so nice to ride with the bikes there and visit the local markets. It felt authentic. The locals there are very friendly and welcoming.

Pai is a town in the Mae Hong Soon Province of northern Thailand. It’s about 3.5 hours ride from Chiang Mai. We highly recommend to visit there while traveling in North Thailand.

Land split and tubes in Pai Thailand

A place that used to be a farm, until one day in 2008 a huge crack in the land appeared which split it in two. The disaster ruined the farm’s crop and the owner decided not to cultivate his land again, but to turn this place into a touristic attraction. The crack itself is quite impressive, but this is not the only reason that we were excited about this place.

When we arrived, the girl who works there welcomed us with a smile and invited us to sit in a nice area. Once we sat, she brought us refreshments of banana chips, hibiscus jam, peanuts, and hibiscus juice. We sat there for quite a long time. The refreshments didn’t cost anything, but the place exists from donations. In the entrance there is a box of donations where you can leave as much as you want.

After the snacks we did something even more fun 🙂 we rented (for a really cheap price of about 2 euro) 2 tubes and took them to the lane nearby. There were about 5 people that were swimming there and we floated with the tubes. It was so relaxing and fun.

You definitely can spend half a day there. We arrived by scooter but you can also take a taxi there. It’s about 7km from Pai’s center.

Map



Hidden hot springs

In all the agencies of Pai they offer a visit to the hot springs, they are very touristic and the entrance price is pretty expensive for Thailand (300 baht). If you want to make a small effort and spend less (20 baht), you can go to the Sai Ngam hot springs

Indeed today they are less hidden than they used to be and more people go there, but they are still much less crowded than the other ones. Especially in the middle of the week.

They are located 16km from Pai’s center. The drive there is pretty twisted, with declines and increases, so if you drive there with a scooter you should be aware of this.

Fermentation workshop

If you are into health and love to learn new stuff about how to improve your wellbeing, this is a workshop that you might enjoy.

We discovered this class unintentionally while we sat in a restaurant called “Goodlife” and I saw a flyer about fermentation. It sounded interesting so we decided to go there.

The workshop is located in a chada. There are two guys that run it Lance and Costantin. The is workshop called Pai love fermentery. It’s designated to three people and more and the cost is around 600 baht per person for a 4 hour workshop.

We were the only ones that day so we paid 1600 baht for the both of us (still a very cheap price for what you get from it).

In the beginning of the workshop we learned about the fermentation process and why it’s good to eat fermented food. Afterwards we learned about kombucha (fermented tea) and Kefir (fermented milk). We learned how to make them and why they are healthy for our body.

During the workshop we snacked on some fermented food, we ate fermented lunch and drank the kombucha. The atmosphere there is the greatest and the guys are super nice.

We learned a lot from it and ever since that workshop we make Kefir in our home every day 🙂

Special workshop that’s very recommended. The workshop is Monday-Saturday 11:00-15:00. Sunday it’s closed. You don’t have to sign-in before; just arrive 10 minutes before it starts.

It’s about 1km from Pai’s center

Map


 Chinese village Viewpoint in Pai

My recommendation is to go to the Chinese village at noon for lunch and then during the sunset to go to the viewpoint to see the sunset. The entrance to the viewpoint costs 20 baht and you also get a green tea.

Drinking tea while watching the sunset is so fun and relaxing. The village is located 5km from Pai’s center.

Map


Recommendation for a guesthouse in Pai

We stayed at the Baan kanoon guesthouse for 7 days. We really liked it.

It’s a beautiful guesthouse. The rooms are cabins and there is a big yard. And in the entrance to each cabin there is a table and chairs. It’s a really relaxing and clean place.

The cost is around 400 baht a night. Located in a great location, about 2 minutes by foot to the night-walking street. There have free coffee and tea in the morning.

Map

Ko Phi Phi is a small, cool island without cars in Thailand; you can explore the entire island by foot, so it’s really fun.
It’s located east from the Phuket and it’s easy to reach it by ferry. In Ko Phi Phi there are many restaurants, cool bars, and beach parties. There are amazing beaches, street food, diving, snorkeling, a 7 islands tour and more recommendation for a lodging: PP Insula– a simple, clean, and nicely located hotel witreasonable prices.
We stayed there for a few nights and were very pleased with it.

In addition to all the great things I mentioned that you can do in Ko Phi Phi, there is also a really nice point view trip that you can do while exploring the island.

Phi-Phi Viewpoints trip

Many people go to the first point view. It’s about 20 minutes climbing many stairs. It’s open every day and costs 30 baht. You will see signs in the island that direct you to the beginning of the stairs.
Climbing up is pretty exhausting, but it’s so worth it.

The view from the point view is breathtaking. You can also sit there and relax to grab a drink from the restaurant and enjoy the amazing view and breeze.

If you want to challenge yourself a little bit more, you can continue the trail in order to reach the other point views and afterwards you can continue on that trail to the other side of the island.

It’s a trail in the forest and it’s really nice and shaded for walking. It’s about 2 hours walking (depends on your speed). From the first point view there are 2 more viewpoints.
The trail itself is non-touristic and you won’t find many people there.


After arriving to the other side of the island you pass through a small village. This village was built after the tsunami by the rescue forces for local residents of Koh Phi Phi and non-Thais.

It’s really cool to see this village, because now only locals live there, but all the signs are in English. Aside from the small villages there are also great beaches and nice restaurants there. So

you can spend a few hours there and have a great time.
In order to go back to your hotel you can walk back the same as before or take a speedboat that will get you back to the other side of Ko Phi Phi. That’s the option that we chose, because it was too late.

There are not a lot of speedboats there (low competition) so the workers allow themselves to charge high prices for 20 minutes. We took the speedboat ride from loh lana bay and after bargaining the price we agreed for 500 baht.

Some tips

I recommend you to start the point view trip early so you will be able to enjoy the other

side of the island too and also to return by foot if you prefer

You can also do this trip the opposite way. Take a speedboat to the other side and then to

do the trail in the forest, point views, and then back to your hotel.

I recommend to do this trip with closed shoes, and not sandals or flip flops. Also to bring water and a hat with you.

During our stay in Northern Thailand (in Chiang Mai), we decided to go and volunteer at a farm that I  discovered while reading a blog post of Thailand.

The farm – Happy healing home–  is about 3-hour drive from Chiang Mai, and it’s ran by an ex-monk named pinan Jim, and his wife pinan Ti.

Pinan Jim was a monk for 16 years, and he quit after he realized that he has nothing more to learn from that lifestyle, and because he wanted to start the farm.

His goal is to teach Buddhism and the rest of his knowledge of the Lana Tribe, which he belongs to, to travelers from around the world in order to continue his legacy and his tribe.

About the farm

The farm is pretty secluded and is surrounded by a forest. It’s constructed of a giant tent that previous volunteers helped to build, and is equipped with a basic kitchen and a sitting area. There is a shed with tools, loads of chickens, one pig and one bull.

There are a few basic wooden-bamboo bungalows that all have a mattress on the floor, and this is where you sleep.

The restroom is a hole in the ground, and you shower using a bucket. There is no electricity. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime-experience.


The schedule at the farm

Our schedule was waking up at 6am, drinking tea or coffee, stretching for half hour, and from there going to the shrine or up the mountain where we would do yoga and meditation. We would go back around 9am and eat the most amazing breakfast that the monk’s wife made us. After breakfast, we’d help washing the dishes and then work at the farm. We would help preparing lunch, mostly cutting veggies.

By the end of it a few volunteers would help do the dishes. There is some free time to take a nap, and when we would wake, we’d go straight back to work. We’d feed the animals and go to the forest to look for some food for the bull.

After a long working day, we’d have dinner and by the end of it we’d  light up a fire and everyone would gather around to listen carefully to Finan Jim’s tales of Buddhism and of the soul.


Up to 13 people can stay at the farm each time. It costs close to nothing, 200 baht per night per person, and it includes the 3 meals that you get every day.

We met people from all around the world (USA, Spain, Germany, Italy, Australia and more).

The food at the farm was amazing, some of our best meals in Thailand for sure! It’s organic and there was a large variety! We met some lovely people from all around the world…

Roman,  built a door and a shelf and added it to our cabin. I made some bricks from mud and built a small wall! We helped with feeding the animals, and preparing the food…

we did a lot of yoga and meditation, learned of Buddhism and enjoyed the simple life out in the forest.


Bangkok

When traveling to Bangkok, you’d want to stay anywhere between 2-5 days. It has so much to offer, ranging from shopping (cheap, cheap), street food, so many places and things to see, the Kawasan, and day there are plenty of day trips you could take… I have a feeling you’re starting to get it 🙂

The Kawasan (Bangkok)

Hotels
Attractions in Bangkok

Grand Palace

located within walking distance form the Kawasan. I recommend going as early as 7am, because if you get there even a little later you’ll find yourselves sounded with thousands, and even tens of thousands of people.

Shopping District in Bangkok

Hotel
Shopping
  1. Siam Paragon: A really nice mall that’s considered as one of the most luxurious malls in Asia, where you’ll find a lot of high-end brands. Hours: 10am-10pm.
  2. MBK: One of the most familiar malls amongst Israelis who travel to Thailand… You’ll find a lot of stores and cheap clothes. Keep in mind that if it says it’s a brand, then it’s probably fake! Hours: 10am-10pm
  3. Central World: another huge mall where you can find a variety of stuff, and mostly everything! There is also a movie theater, ice-skating rink, an arcade, and tens of restaurants and cafes! Hours: 10am-10pm
  4. Emquartier: a relatively new mall that opened in 2015, where you’ll find a lot of designer stores and nice restaurants. Definitely worth a visit! Hours: 10am-10pm

Day trips outside of Bangkok

There are a few lovely places that are a short drive away from Bangkok which make a great attraction!

If you are looking for a driver in Bangkok and the area, We used Tom’s services. He took us to Kanchanaburi and to the airport. He is a local driver who has a transportation company with his lovely wife Dee (Dee And Tom’s website, get 5% discount for service transportation using the code : trvbox)

Food in Bangkok

I recommend exploring Bangkok’s huge variety of street food. You can find out more in the post “Street Food in Bangkok.”

Islands in Bangkok

Koh Samui

You should stay anytime between 3-7 days. It’s an island of resorts, markets, beaches and attractions. If you feel like chilling then this is the perfect place!

There are resorts on the water by the sea, or up on the mountains where the view is gorgeous.

Hotels

Sandalwood Luxury Villa: a stunning 5-star resort on the mountains. Read more here: “A Romantic Hotel with Incredible View.”

Attractions

There are so many things to do here other than just lay in the sun by the water!

  1. Carting, omega, wipeout, water parks. You name it, you got it.
  2. Bophut: a night market on Chung everyday from 5pm-11pm.
  3. Lamai: another night market that’s open every day starting at 5pm.
  4. Massages!!! They are so soooo cheap and so amazing! You should get them every single day!
  5. There are a few viewpoints on the island. One of the most popular ones is Lamai viewpoint.

koh phangan

You should stay anywhere between 1-3 days, and you can only get there with a ferry.

There are beautiful beaches, not many people around and the half moon & full moon parties.

Hotels

  1. If you’re going to parties and want to sleep somewhere nearby, a hotel that allows you to stay for less than 5 nights (a requirement in many hotels), is the  Buri Beach Resort ( update 2024 : the place is closed permanently ) . It is a 3-star hotel, very clean, and right on the beach! They have amazing pools as well.
  2. Santhiya Resort and Spa Koh Phangan: a relaxing 5-star hotel with a stunning pool!

Attractions

  1. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t like to go to parties, the half and full moon party is a must. It’s a completely different and cool experience where you get your body painted with glow in the dark colors, and the vibes are insane.
  2. Wipeout
  3. Renting bikes and going around the island is so lovely! You get to explore places that you would never see otherwise!

Krabi

Hotels:

Railay Princess Resort and Spa: a 3-star resort with a pool + breakfast that would cost you around $40 per night.

Hotels:

Baan Sawan Resort: a good 3-star hotel at a great location with a pool.

Attractions:

Malka Cafe- Amazing service and the food is so delicious

This Cafe was opened by two lovely sisters, Maayan and Almog a few months ago. From the first time we visited there, we felt like home. A fun and jaunty atmosphere with a great service.

They serve good coffee and also the best sandwiches ever. Regularly, I ask for the vegan sandwich. And we always buy fermented bread from them to take home and it’s so good. We are addicted.

All the desserts, bread, and pastries are homemade. They serve also quiche, salads, breakfasts, and more.

Recently they hired a new chef and added more dishes to the menu. The prices are good and the quality is very high.

On a sunny day it’s a great place to be at because there’s a good breeze and they have a big open space to sit outside.

Address: Elifelet 26
Opening hours
Sunday- Thursday 07:00-20:00
Friday 07:00-16:00. Closed on Saturday



Albi Cafe- A cool and hipster vegetarian Cafe

Great food and casual atmosphere. A good place to come alone, to work on the laptop and to order a coffee or a cider. And you will get hungry so don’t worry because the food there is really tasty.

My favorite dish is the hot freekeh salad. It comes with eggplant, onion, parsley, almonds, freekeh, bulgarian cheese, and a tasty dressing with a lot of lemon and tahini.

And the other dish is Sabich. This dish is served in a Pita bread filled with crunchy potatoes, eggplant, egg, parsley, and tahini.

There are other good dishes like vegan shakshuka and a dish of cooked potatoes with egg or avocado and more.

On Friday and Saturday they serve hummus and Jahnoun (a Yemenite dish).

The prices are reasonable and the workers there are super nice. You can spent hours there without even noticing. You can sit inside or outside.

Address : Hagdud haivri
Opening hours
Sunday – Thursday 08:00-00:00, Friday 08:00-19:00, and Saturday 09:00-00:00


Tony and Esther- Coffee house with a happy atmosphere and good breakfast

A really popular Cafe in a Florentine neighborhood and most of the time it’s full. There are many seats outside. This coffee place is a cool gem on Levinski Street.

My first visit there was by accident when I went with a friend to look for a coffee. Since then we go there every time we are in the mood for a fun atmosphere and a good breakfast/lunch. There are several options for breakfast including a vegan one. There’s also a poached eggs dish with bread and mayonnaise and great salads like lentils salad.

On Friday and Saturday there are the best vibes and many people.

Address: Levinski 39
Sunday- Thursday 08:-15:00, Friday 08:00-16:00, and Saturday 09:00-00:00

 

Casabah Cafe- restaurant – Cool atmosphere and high-quality coffee

This Cafe- restaurant has a nice garden and awesome vibes. It’s also a good place to come alone and to work on the laptop. The Wi-Fi connection there is strong.

This place is located on Florentine Street and it’s almost always full.

The coffee is high-quality and it’s strong (so if you are a strong coffee lover you will love this place).

They have a rich menu with starters like French fries and roasted eggplant, main dishes like shakshuka and sweet potatoes salad, hamburger, deserts, and a menu with specials dishes.

If you are in the mood to come and just grab a drink this is also a fun place to hang-out.

During lunch they give 20% off on sandwiches, salads, and main dishes. Sunday – Thursday 12:00-17:00

Address: Florentine 3a
Opening hours
Sunday- Friday 08:00- last customer.
Saturday 09:00- last customer.


In Tel Aviv there are many great coffee shops. We live in South Tel Aviv, so I decided to write about our favorite coffee shops in our area.

Bike Bakery Cafe- A homey, vegan coffee house

A delightful coffee house with homemade pastries, cakes, bourekas, quiches, and sausages, and they are all vegan.

I had the chance to try their new dish; a Cheeseburger with a side dish of potatoes. The hamburger is made with black lentils and it’s served in a bun with fried onion, lettuce, and a vegan cheese. The dish was very yummy!! And really satisfactory; I took half as a take-away.

The service was wonderful and all the dishes sound so delicious that I have to go back again and try more.

Address: Zvulun 17
Opening hours
Monday- Thursday 16:00-23:00, Friday 10:00-16:00. Closed on Saturday and Sunday

 

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Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Northern Thailand, and it is the capital of the province of Chiang Mai. Some claim that it is the best representation to the traditional Thailand.

While traveling to Chiang Mai, we stayed in the ancient city at the Chada House guest house. It is very cheap, clean, and the service as well as location is great.

Eat Khao-soi, Thailand’s Traditional Dish

This is actually so light and delicious, that you could eat it every day without ever getting tired of it.
The dish is served as a type of a soup with cooked egg noodles and fried rice noodles, lime, shallots, pickles, chilli flakes, and with your choice of beef or chicken with curry and coconut milk.

Since it is a street food, it is extremely cheap. You can find it for 30-50 Bhut which is as low as a single dollar.
We tried it in a lot of places. The best one we found was the recommendation of Mark Wiens (famous vlogger).

It is a Khao-soi restaurant that is open only until 2pm. They open at 10am from Monday-Saturday.  Address: Sri Poom 8 Alley, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Hiking in the Mountains

There are plenty of hiking trails in the mountains of Chiang Mai.
There are longer ones that take a couple of days and others that take a few hours. The best way to do it is to go with a few friends since it’s easy to get lost out there.

Also, there are a few areas that you can’t get into and and you’ll need special permit.
Some companies offer to take the hike with a combination of several attractions, such as riding elephants! I don’t support that because I consider it animal abuse, so I prefer to walk only.

You can find a hiking agency and go with them, there are so many in Chiang Mai so you’ll find it really easily.
I picked a less touristy trail.

You walk through the jungle, bath in a waterfall, visit a tribe, and see bat caves! The walk is about 4-4.5 hours.

There is an hour and a half drive each way to get to the trail. You get lunch so you don’t have to pack any.
I had the best time and I got to know some really nice people!

We were about 10 people and I paid 1,300 Baht which includes the drive, the guide, and lunch.
If you order a day in advance the group is not going to be as full and there is a chance to get a cheaper price. The price is usually between 1,200-1,500 Baht through different companies.

The trail was a bit hard at times, but it was easy to intermediate.
The only thing that bothered me is that the lunch break was a bit too long, but others seemed to have enjoyed the break.
I got picked up at 8:30am and was dropped off at 5:30pm from the comfort of my guest house.

 

Mountain Biking in the Mountains

While I went hiking, Roman went to do some mountain biking! I love riding bikes, but on a nice asphalt road and not in the mountains! Roman loves those kinds of challenges and he really wanted to try the biking!

There is an option to rent your own bikes, but it’s dangerous to do it on your own, and especially for beginners. Unless you are an experienced mountain biker, don’t go by yourself.

There are companies that offer a few trails in different levels of difficulty. Roman took a while to decide between the easy and hard and he ended up taking the one in between.
They said that if you don’t have experience then you won’t be able to complete the hard trail.

The intermediate one was hard as well and a lot of people fell.
If it’s your first time then you should pick the easy trail.

You have to get to the bike shop in the morning to pick up the equipment and there is a shuttle to the mountain. It was from around 9am-5pm.
Roman said some good things about the agency so you should definitely do it through them! They are called  Mountain biking chiang mai



Visit Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in all of Thailand. Its height is 2,565 meters. In 1954 it was declared as a national park and between 1972-1975 the park was expanded to its size today – 482 squared kilometers.

This is one of the most impressive locations in Thailand and I highly recommend going there! You should hire a driver, especially of you are a few people traveling together.

I got to spend a few days by myself in Chiang Mai, and I didn’t want to go alone, plus it could get expensive! I decided to join an organized group to go there.

I met two girls that were really nice, and the trip was lovely. It was very touristy, however. We pulled over many times in gift shops and no one really cared for it.

Although, I must say that it was worth it, because otherwise I wouldn’t get to see this beautiful place! The drive was about 2.5 hours, and you should pack some warm clothes because it gets chilly up there.
I was picked up from the hotel at around 8:30am and dropped off at 4:30pm. It was 900 Baht because I ordered a day in advance and got a discount.




Drink Wine and Eat Cheese or Some Good Tea with Dessert

Update for 2026: The place is permanently closed.

After spending 2 months in Thailand we craved a Western treat.
We looked for a place with some wine and cheese, and we actually found one!

The place is called Kalapela, and they import their wine and cheese from Europe! They also have a great assortment of teas and great desserts.

Visit the Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens

The botanic gardens are about 50 km from the ancient city of Chiang Mai. We rented a scooter and drove there. You can also hire a driver to take you!

The garden are so impressive! There are so many kinds, and so much to see! We were there for about 4 hours and still just got a glimpse. There is an area of predator plants,  a rain forest, and even entire areas designated for cactuses and orchids and so much more!

Opening hours:
Everyday from 8:30am-5pm.
A ticket costs 100 Baht.
The gardens are very big and it will take more than a day to walk around and see everything, so you should bring the scooter inside and use it around the gardens, or take the car service of the gardens as an alternative, which is 30 Baht.

In Conclusion, Chiang Mai completely stole my heart. It’s not about luxury malls or crazy nightlife, it’s about good food, mountains, nature, and a slower rhythm of life. You can eat an amazing bowl of Khao Soi for a dollar, hike through the jungle and swim in a waterfall, bike down a mountain if you’re brave enough, visit the highest peak in Thailand, and still end your day with tea and dessert or a glass of wine.

It’s a city that lets you mix adventure with comfort, street food with boutique guest houses, and tourist highlights with quiet local corners. Whether you’re into nature, food, soft adventure, or just want a relaxed northern Thailand vibe, Chiang Mai is one of those places that’s easy to love and hard to leave.