Hi all,
so after all my questions on Hanoi I have finally been so thought I would update you...
Flights - I ended up flying with Hong Kong airlines for £170 per person
Visas - I went to the embassy in Wan Chai and it was so easy, passport, one photo and a form, a 30min visa costs $500HKD each. If you have longer it is a lot cheaper to pick it up a few days later
Hotel - I decided to go with Hanoi Elegance 4, hotel staff were good, rooms good, food good etc no complaints at all. Only thing I would say were showers were very complicated and all the gadgets in it didn't really work too well!! Location is fab, very central, cabs all around so it's not hard to get anywhere if you want to.
Halong bay - I booked a private one day cruise around Halong Bay for $85USD each and it was worth it. Transfer to and from there, huge boat, seafood lunch, cave visit and even flowers for my boyfriends birthday.
The two highlights of the trip in Hanoi which I would recommend were definitely Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the Hanoi Prison which both really surprised me.
Hope the above helps anyone planning on going, enjoy!!