From Hanoi to the Sapporo Snow Festival

Unfortunately, we are leaving Hanoi today and heading to Japan for the Sapporo Snow Festival! Our flight doesn’t leave until later on in the day so we still have a little time to enjoy Vietnam before we say good bye.

Cong Caphe

After checking out of our hotel we decide to indulge in a little more of Hanoi’s awesome coffee culture by spending some time at Cong Caphe. It’s a popular local coffee chain that started with one coffee shop in Hanoi and has since grown to over a hundred stores across the globe. The location we visit is a quaint three story shop with balconies on each floor overlooking the busy street and square below. We spend some time people watching and enjoying the delicious coffee offering reminiscing about our time in Vietnam.

Bun Cha Dac Kim

After coffee we decide to stroll around a little and take in our last sights and sounds of Hanoi. Before long our thoughts and bellies turn to food again. This time we we visit Bun Cha Dac Kim, which is another Michelin Guide Selected street food recommendation. Bun Cha is like a Vietnamese version of dipping noodles. The servers come around with a generous helping of “fresh” vegetables along with a bowl of a stewed pork dipping sauce. You then get a plate vermicelli noodles which you dip in the noodles for Bun Cha! It’s a delightful dish and I’m happy that the Sister and I get to try this before we leave!

After lunch we decide to wander around a little longer before returning to our hotel to pick up our luggage. We then arrange a ride for the hour long ride to Hanoi airport in the late afternoon.

Hanoi to Hong Kong

Originally the Sister and I had planned to stay and explore Vietnam longer before passing through Japan on our way home. However, after some research, we realize that we have an opportunity to catch the tail end of the Sapporo Snow festival by leaving a bit earlier. During the planning stages we consider multiple ways of getting to Sapporo from Hanoi. There were more expensive and direct routes and more affordable and indirect routes . In the end we “somehow” settle on an affordable but very indirect route! So overnight we will be flying from Hanoi to Hong Kong to Osaka to Sapporo. This allows us to arrive in the early afternoon and gives us the chance to catch the last afternoon and evening of the Sapporo Snow Festival!

So after checking in and clearing security we settle in for our whirlwind flights with our first one to Hong Kong. This flight is actually fairly pleasant! It’s a short (they’re all kind of short!) three hour flight, with a meal and we try to catch a bit of rest throughout the flight.

Hong Kong International Airport

After landing in Hong Kong we have a three hour layover before our next flight to Japan. We spend a little time exploring the airport as it’s been a while since either of us has been through this airport. Being an AvGeek I of course, have to visit the Sky Bridge. It’s a cool airside bridge that passengers can walk across and see the entire airport and surrounding area from above. You can also see airplanes taxi underneath the bridge if you’re lucky! Unfortunately for the time of day of our visit, there isn’t much activity and photos are difficult due to the light outside and the glare inside.

The Wing

Being in Hong Kong is also an opportunity to check out Cathay Pacific’s The Wing Lounge. So I spend a little time exploring it. It has some nice food offerings, is open and airy and is a bit more exclusive than other contract lounges. But as it’s late into the evening some areas of the lounge are closed and not all the services are available. Nonetheless, its a good port in the storm!

Hong Kong to Osaka

After a few hours, its time again to board our second flight to Osaka Japan. We wearily make our way to the gate, board the plane and settle in. The flight is pretty uneventful and we spend most of it trying to catch a few moments of sleep where possible.

Kansai International Airport

After a few hours, we land at Kansai International Airport in Osaka. We clear Japanese customs and immigration and have a few hours to kill before our last flight up to Sapporo. There is a landside contract lounge called the Nodoka Lounge. Which we head to. It’s kind of unique as there are different theme areas to choose from and the Sister and I pick the “picnic” area theme to spend our time. We avail ourselves of a much needed shower and have our first Japanese meal of the trip, curry on rice! While the shower helps us freshen up, the effects of broken sleep and multiple flights are starting to catch up to us. Thankfully, after a few hours, we check back into the airport for our final flight of the day.

Osaka to Sapporo

Our final flight is a Japan Airlines flight from Osaka to Sapporo. Thankfully it’s a short hour and a half flight and we both manage to stay awake for the entirety of it. In fact the Sister is able to practice a bit of her Japanese with her neighbour and strike up a small conversation and make a new friend! It’s also wild to step onto the plane in clear weather in Osaka and then step off of it in a wintery setting in Sapporo. To think not 24 hours earlier we were still in Vietnam!

After collecting our luggage, we hop on the train and make our way to our hotel to drop our gear off. Our day isn’t over since we intend to power through the afternoon! Our intention is to enjoy the remaining half day of the Sapporo Snow Festival! But I will save that for the next post!