A quick note about this write-up… it’s another collaboration between Hannah and Chris. So yes, the tone will switch gears from time to time. Think of it as jazz writing—chaotic, sometimes confusing, but (hopefully) worth the ride.
Day 1 – Coffee, Gardens, and Giving Up on Walking
We landed super early, around 5am or so. Checked into the hotel, dropped our bags and quickly shot up to the rooftop for some views.
This view is from the Mondrian Hotel. Highly rated in Hong Kong on the Kowloon side looking out at Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island.
First things first: coffee. We got ourselves a drip at NOC Coffee, which is one of those trendy chains in Hong Kong that looks like it was designed more for Instagram than caffeine. Minimalist interiors, latte art sharper than our jetlagged brains, you get the picture.
Feeling ambitious, we thought we’d walk to Sky100. Spoiler: we did not. Hong Kong streets laughed at our optimism, and after about twenty minutes of trying to outsmart Google Maps, we admitted defeat and called an Uber.
Our surrender landed us in a much better place: the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden. Picture-perfect bonsai trees, golden pagodas, koi ponds—it’s like someone hit copy-paste on a postcard. The contrast between the manicured calm and the high-rise chaos around it was surreal.
Dinner was at a Vietnamese/Thai fusion spot (an identity crisis we fully supported), followed by—you guessed it—gelato. Because we are adults who understand the importance of dessert.
Hotel. Collapse. Game over.
Day 2 – TechnoGyms, Jellyfish, and Sky Bars
Day two began in what can only be described as a spaceship for fitness: the hotel’s TechnoGym. Hannah, being the overachiever, also ran along the harbor while I supervised from the treadmill in the air conditioning.
After that, yes, back to NOC Coffee. Don’t judge us.
We went cultural with a stop at the Hong Kong History Museum. Informative? Sure. But the real showstopper was a massive jellyfish that could easily headline a horror film. We saw this sucker along the harbor where some older men were jumping in for their morning swim.
The day continued with what I’ll call the longest walk of our lives—from Victoria Harbour to Tik Tak Stadium. On a map, it looked like a breezy stroll. In reality? A death march powered by stubbornness.
Our reward: drinks at the Ritz-Carlton Café on Sky100. Cocktails taste better when you’re sipping them 100 floors above the city with the skyline punching you in the mouth.
The rest of the day was a blur of:
- Fortnum & Mason tea (fancy pinkies out, people)
- Mall wandering (the kind where you consider dropping a pin to find each other again)
- Drinks at a romantic garden restaurant
- A peaceful wander through Kowloon Gardens
- A Marks & Spencer pit stop, where Hannah stocked up on “essentials”.
Dinner was at a Mediterranean-Indian place. Because why pick one continent when you can eat them both? And yes—gelato. Again. (Blue Something was the name. Doesn’t matter. It was good.)
Day 3 – Bougie Breakfast and Goodbye Hong Kong
Our final morning in Hong Kong was peak indulgence: breakfast at The Peninsula. Hannah’s French toast made a grand entrance, as did dim sum, croissants, and something called Chinese liquor coffee. Spoiler: it wakes you up faster than your alarm ever could.
We waddled through one last mall, grabbed our bags, and headed for the airport. Hannah doused herself in essential oils like she was prepping for spiritual combat, and we boarded our Cathay Pacific flight to Hanoi.
Here’s the thing: a two-hour flight that serves a full meal with actual legroom? Asia, you win.
We landed in Hanoi around 5:30 p.m., waited an eternity for our bags (seriously considered changing identities and moving on), then haggled a taxi down from 700 to 400. Small victories.
Finally, we rolled into our hotel, where we were welcomed with spicy dried apricots and a mysterious welcome drink. And just like that, the Vietnam chapter began.
Final Thoughts
Hong Kong is a city of extremes: peaceful gardens tucked beneath skyscrapers, Michelin-starred meals next to late-night street eats, futuristic gyms followed by ancient temples. It’s chaos and calm at the same time—and we loved every second of it.
Next stop: Hanoi. Motorbikes, pho, and more chaos incoming.