We arrived in Hanoi at 8.30am this morning to a balmy 13 degrees. I'm sure it wouldn't have risen much above this all day and then the heating in our room was non existent. When you get up at 4.30am and travel all day, then try and relax in your 3 star room (hmmmm) without heating in 10 degree weather.... it does leave you feeling rather frayed. I so could have checked into the Sofitel tonight. Came rather close I have to say.
A tip for anyone travelling to Hanoi:
We got into a private taxi from the airport after negotiating a pretty good rate and all was going well until we were delivered to a hotel with a completely different name and address from the one I had booked and mind you, already paid for.
As I argued and questioned why the hotel had a different name and the address was 39 instead of 57 (had no idea of the actual street at this point), the man who greeted us had a printed sheet with all the details of the actual hotel I had booked albeit our actual names.
I continued to argue and not leave the taxi until they gave in and drove us to our pre-booked hotel.
As I pieced the unfolding of events together, I realised the phone call the driver had made earlier, was to this 'dodgy' operator who then proceeded to put a dummy letter together for our arrival.
I'm sure it would have fooled a few unsuspecting travellers as he was quite convincing, saying that he had two hotels and an office etc, trying to justify the difference in name and address.
So, beware!!!
A walk around the old town and Hoan Kiem Lake was beautiful and completely reviving after a long couple of days.
As you turn a corner from 'modern' Hanoi into the old town, you're suddenly surprised by streets so full of colour and movement and you start to get the feeling you're in a place quite unique with street venders, cyclo drivers all set amongst beautiful old colonial buildings lining the streets.
Lunch wasn't as adventurous as I had imagined. We're easing our way into this backpacking stuff. The kids settled on a seafood restaurant that they spotted and was full of business men having very long and quite merry lunches.
The food was pretty spectacular though and when I did the exchange rate calculation..... Squid, Mapo Beancurd, rice, and Broccoli cooked in garlic still only came to $20 at a pretty upmarket establishment. I do think the children were expecting either calamari rings or the deep fried tentacles you get at YumCha, but they did well with whole baby squid deep fried with garlic and butter. Did I say WHOLE?? Yes... everything still attached, eyes, guts, all of it and they ate most of it up.
I'm pretty sure the name of the restaurant was Nha Trang Seafood restaurant (as in the seaside town in the south).
Well, it's time to sign off, now that I'm thawed and can think again. Might try a bit of reading before we head out to god knows what tomorrow.
Although before I go I do have to say that I don't understand what all the fuss about the traffic is?? It's simple, just walk... don't look, just go at a nice pace and the world moves around you. It's quite easy and no where near as busy I had imagined. I really don't think it has a shred on Cairo! Now that's crazy!!
Night all!
X
Lisa
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