Starting out in the Nam

Didn't want to say I told you so!!!

Before leaving the UK, I had asked our travel agent for a cost to fly from Hong Kong to Vietnam. We were quoted GDP 156 each (no pounds sign on keyboard!!), which seemed fairly reasonable but Leon was convinced we would be able to get it cheaper at the airport, so much so he even said he would pay for the cost of the flights.

It no matter, we are immortal!

So you can imagine what happens... we arrive at Hong Kong airport with only minutes to spare, only to find that the cost of the flight will now be GDP 325 each - unlucky Leon, get your wallet out!!!

Anyway Vietnam is not what I expected, it's soooo green everywhere. The drive into Hanoi from the airport was fascinating. Paddy fields stretching out as far as the eye can see, dotted with tiny women wearing conical hats intermingled with the odd water buffalo!

When we get off the bus it's complete chaos, people trying to persuade us to get into a taxi, on a moped or stay at their hotel. Everyone we speak to seems to have a hotel on the same street we're headed. The taxi we opt for, apparently drops us miles away from where we need to be, so we head for another hostel close by recommended by lonely planet only to find it's in a shell like state, closed for refurb! We eventually check in to another hostel and head out for a much needed drink!

Next morning we wake up and realise we've been sharing our room with an unwanted visitor, a cockroach!!! Whose idea was it to go travelling?!?!?

We spent the rest of the day sightseeing Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the Temple of Literature. The motorbike taxis, xe om, are certainly an experience, both of us on the back of one with the driver, heading into on coming traffic and near miss with a bus. But as the driver says "it no matter, we are immortal!"

And crossing the road...The bible (lonely planet, from now on will be referred to as the bible!!) suggests that walking slowly and confidently into the constant stream of traffic should be like parting the red sea. Scary as hell at first, but seems to do the job!

We ventured out to Cam Chi for dinner, an alley crammed full of street stalls. The one we chose had camping stoves set out on each table so you could cook your own food. This seemed like a great idea at the time, but later realising we were the only white faces and no one spoke English proved to be a little difficult. Saying that the food was delicious, even if a little over cooked, "are you definitely sure that's cooked Leon, put it back in just to make sure?"

We came back to Hanoi a few days later (as it was the pick up for the open tour bus to take us south) and decided to do a little more sightseeing. After consulting the bible we decided to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. From here you can see the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh in a glass sarcophagus. The bible suggests that there are strict rules on admission, no shorts, hats, cameras etc, but we didn't realise how strict! Firstly we had to have our bags searched for liquids, then after more queuing our bags went through the x-ray machine. If you were found to have a camera, you had to put it in a little red bag. Then more queuing, but in pairs... until you had to drop your camera off at a collection point... then more queuing... then an hour and a half later, we finally enter the building. There are guards everywhere with rifles and knives! We abruptly get told to be silent and the poor girl next to us is barked at to take her hands out of her pockets! Once in the room with the sarcophagus you are manhandled to hurry up! It's not like we going to do much anyway, the guy is already dead! 

In the afternoon we visited Hoa Lo Prison Museum, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by the American US POWs. According to the bible, one Senator cannot raise his hands above his head because of the torture he received here and tried to commit suicide twice while imprisoned. We were quite suprised then to see the walls covered with photos of the American's laughing, playing games and eating fresh fruit - propaganda perhaps!?!?   

For our ref: Viet Fun Hotel, 48 P Ma May - 2 out of 5

New Day Restaurant, 72 P Ma May - 4 out of 5