Nothing can prepare you for Hanoi!!!!

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Hanoi Traffic

Halong Bay

At the airport we quickly found the airport bus and headed for the city of Hanoi to find a hotel.


On arriving at our drop off point, we were immediately pounced on by a young chap.
This chap insisted that Mikes Hotel in the old town was the best and that we should go and see it.


I'd read up on a few hotels and remembered that this one had a bad review.
Told him what I'd read, but he wasn't having any of it.
"Just come and see for yourself"
So off we went in the taxi with him.........


And guess what!


We stayed there, it was just too good to turn down.
From day one, we were adopted as Mum and Dad.
And the staff looked after us really well.


The first thing we had to learn in Hanoi, was how to cross the road!!!!
Otherwise we'd be walking around the block for our entire stay.....


Traffic does not stop for you!!!
It weaves around you.


This can be quite unnerving when you have 40 or more motor cycles heading straight at you.
The trick is to walk slowly and they will avoid you.
But first off, you have to have the guts to step off the pavement.....
(In Skims case, she had to be dragged by the hand across the road)


Having mastered the road crossing we were able to visit a number of the sights of interest, as you can see by our pictures....


We were also able to book a day trip to Halong Bay through our hotel.
Turns out that we paid less for our trip than the others on the boat - Good deal.


It was a great day out and was a complete change from the toot tooting and beep beeping of Hanoi.


Enjoy our pictures of our stay.......

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Photos

Good morning Vietnam....
Now how do I cross the road?...

Mikes Hotel
Great place in the heart of the old town.

OK! I'm at the palace...
But can't take photos, so not paying to go in...

Changing the guard...
Near uncle Ho's place...

Near Ba Dinh Square...
Lots of important buildings here...

Ho Chi Min Mausoleum.
Do you want to see him Skid!!!

Sorry Skim!!
He is in Russia, strange but true...

Ba Dinh Hall...
This is a meeting place for the great important events of Vietnam...

Monument...
This is the monument of the patriot combatants who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the Homeland...

Pit Stop...
On the way to Halong Bay....

At the harbour...
Waiting to board...

Ok! Where
Yes it was included in the trip - Tasted good too.....

Go on...
Buy some, at vastly inflated tourist prices!

Yet another floating shop...
How the big boats don't crush them, I don't know!

This is peaceful...
It's great way to have a break from the noise of Hanoi...

Looks like we are stopping..
Better get this beer down my neck...

Sung Sot cave...
This is the first part of the "Cave of Suprise"...

Don't get lost!!!
You know you don't like the dark....

Have we got time to play!!!
Hide and go seek....

Comments

[Marg]

Suicide crossing
It looked like suicide trying to cross that road, What a nightmare, Hotel looked good though, It looks a beautiful country!!! You have been to some spectacular Places Ohhh !!!!!!!! What memories,

[skid skim]

Oh! What memories....
Some we can't mention, so we'll tell you at a later date. Great room, only a fiver a night each including breakfast - Can't be bad!

[NancyDennis]

Following your path
We're leaving Bangkok for Hanoi on Thursday. Thanks for the recommendation on Mikes. Looks good. See you down the road. we're another 50+couple enjoying life! Nancy & Dennis

[skid skim]

Nice to hear from you both.
We've stayed in good and bad places and this is a good one. We look for clean sheets and towels, good aircon and friendly happy staff. What more does one need! They do a free airport pick up too... Just give them your flight no. and approx time of arrival and they will pick you up. Happy travelling Ron & Avril "By the way they are all called Mike apart from Tommy" Ha ha..