Hanoi day 1
Thursday, September 12th, 2013Back on the tablet so apologies for any erors. Anyway realise why it is better to fly to bangkok rather than hanoi, here everybody goes to sleep by 11pm. Actually not quite as bad as before but after being hassled by police in 3 consecutive places eventually decided tonight not a good night for drinking. As opposed to the post Thaksin regime when the action would only just be starting. Given the time difference and a very hot evening a Thai gogo bar would be very welcome now. But did enjoy my first glimpse of Hanoi on a warm evening, still as chaotic as ever and yet to see a McDonalds or a waistline to match it. Probably the communists greatest success, keeping all that rubbish out and the diabetes etc to match. How much longer, probably not much.
Anyway so far so good given the potential pitfuls. My first attempt at using National Expresss from victoria to Heathrow not so impressive, were they using Mexican time or just typical ! London traffic but quite late, lucky had allowed extra time. Even more so given the security at Heathrow took an age. Luckily Cathay Pacific flight to the expected standard and the very quick changeover went to plan. Admittedly wouldn’t recommend doing at home given it involved a lot of walking, train transfer and a bus transfer, not what you need on a quickie changeover involving 2 different airlines But all credit to them they made it work.
Arriving Hanoi typical Vietnam. Taking the airport minibus to the center shouldn’t have been a major hassle yet as usual was. Having got in an empty minibus a big group of Vietnamese turned up so rather than going the usual route we got a magical mystery tour of Hanoi and the surrounds. I was eventually dumped somewhere back in Hanoi but didn’t have a clue where and more by luck made good use of my hiking training and found my way back to the old quarter.
So in desperate need of a hotel and beer did find somewhere unfortunately everytime I got a beer the police came along so had to make quick exits.
Anyway of to the beach tomorrow for a well earned rest
petefurlepa