Hong Kong Getaway: 5 Days of Fun and Discovery
My Hong Kong Adventure: A Quick Recap
Just got back from an amazing 5-day, 4-night trip to Hong Kong! Here's a little rundown of my experience.
Flights & Accommodation
✈️ Flew with VNA on a super convenient schedule – 10:30 AM departure and 3:30 PM return. Perfect for avoiding those super early mornings or late-night arrivals! 😜
🏠 I stayed at the Best Western Plus Hotel Hong Kong. It was around 1.5 million VND per night for 2 people. A decent deal for the location (though it was a little dated). It was super close to bus stops, the MTR, K11, and the Harbour. Plus, the A21 bus is right nearby for easy and cheap airport transfers! :)))
Getting Around
🚆 I grabbed a SIM card and borrowed an Octopus card from Hong Kong Bên Hông. Activating the eSIM at the airport on arrival was a breeze. The Octopus card is a lifesaver – it's like Hong Kong's version of WePay. Having the physical card was essential since I couldn't seem to connect to Octopus online! 🤣🤣🤣
Essentials to Pack
- Cash
- Wet wipes/tissues
- Umbrella/hat
- Power bank (a MUST!)
- Plug adapter
- Apps: Octopus for Tourists (if you can connect, ditch the physical card), Google Maps (handles all directions perfectly, so I didn't bother downloading other apps), Disneyland Hong Kong (if you're going, of course! 😛)
- A little note: ChatGPT doesn't work in Hong Kong! 🤣🤣🤣 I was planning to use it to adjust my itinerary on the fly, but no luck. So, if you're a ChatGPT addict, be warned!
Itinerary Highlights
This trip was partially for work, so here's a breakdown of what I did:
Day 1: The Peak & City Views
- Arrived at the airport, took the A21 bus to the hotel, checked in, and dropped off my bags. Headed to The Peak around 4 PM.
- Stopped by a fishball noodle shop for a late lunch. The place was packed, even at that hour! =)))
- The Peak Tram experience was pretty cool. Reaching the summit was fun, but it was super crowded! =))) (I bought a combo ticket for the tram and Sky Terrace on Klook).
- Waited for the city lights to come on, then took the bus to Yat Lok for some roast goose. Cost us $708 HKD for four people.
- Strolled through Lan Kwai Fong. It was still early, so the party scene hadn't really kicked off yet.
- Wandered back to the harbor for some night views and a beer. =))
Day 2: Art & Shopping
- Worked until around 4 PM.
- Managed to squeeze in a visit to the Museum of Art, took in the harbour views, and did some light shopping on Nathan Road.
- Dinner at Le 188 with incredible views and delicious food. The photo below was taken there. Restaurant guests can go to the rooftop for even better views. Definitely worth it! :d
Day 3: Ngong Ping & Outlet Shopping
- More work in the morning! 🤣🤣
- Since I was working near the airport, I headed to Ngong Ping around 1 PM after lunch. I only explored Ngong Ping Village, the Big Buddha, and the Wisdom Path. Didn't make it to Tai O fishing village this time. 😛 The scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The Crystal Cabin cable car was a fun ride! (Definitely recommend getting round-trip tickets! :))) I only bought a one-way ticket because I thought I'd visit the fishing village and return late. But my friend got tired, so we headed back early, and buying two separate one-way tickets was much more expensive! huhuuu)
- After the cable car, I went to the outlet mall and shopped until closing time! =))) Definitely did a lot of shopping this trip! 🤣🤣🤣
Day 4: Disneyland Adventures
- Disneyland! =))) Even though I went alone, I had a blast! =)))
- Wear comfortable shoes and download the app to check show schedules and wait times.
- It was a Tier 2 day, but it wasn't too crowded. If I hadn't spent so much time in the shops, I probably could have ridden each ride 2-3 times! =)))
- I left the park at 8:15 PM to line up for the fireworks, so my view wasn't the best. But the fireworks show was still incredible! 😛 If you want a closer view, with the water show, you should probably line up around 6:30 PM (there were already quite a few people waiting when I walked by around that time).
Day 5: Souvenir Shopping & Departure
- Spent the morning shopping for souvenirs (Keewah Bakery, Bakehouse, trinkets, etc.) before heading to the airport. :))
Important Notes
- 📍If you're planning to buy tea at Fook Ming Tong, keep in mind that it doesn't open until 11 AM! 🥲🥲 I was running late and didn't have time to go back.
- 📍There are Heytea, Tenren, and Chagee shops near my hotel. I only discovered this on the last day! Heytea was amazing! Tenren... I'll have to try it next time! huhuu 🥲🥲🥲
- 📍The airport has a pretty good dried fruit store, Yu Fung store I think. I bought a box of seaweed floss to try, and my kid loved it! 🤣🤣🤣 You should check it out!
Trip Expenses
My expenses for accommodation, food, transportation, and activities (excluding shopping) came to around 19 million VND.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are still so many places I didn't get to see (no check-ins! huhuu) and so many dishes I didn't try. I mostly just shopped! 🤣🤣🤣 If I have the chance, I'll definitely come back to explore the rest! 🤣🤣🤣
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