There is No Permanence, Save for Change - Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam

Hanoi - a disappointment and a turn off for the rest of the country (for me)
I flew in from Thailand and were planning a whole month in Vietnam, but the locals of Hanoi managed to change my mind in 2 short days. The Old Town where I, like most budget travelers, stayed was so disgustingly dirty, impossible to walk in - all sidewalks are occupied by peddlers and makeshift 'shops' so you forced to walk on the road, where locals just enjoy to push you with their scooters, noisy and just all-around a turn off. Though some hotel personnel were trying to be sweet (just 'trying', mind you), that didn't stop them from lying about amenities, misrepresenting charges on bills, and yes, even steeling part of my laundry! It is so frustrating that everyone aims to be 'sweet' and 'positive' and forgets that they also have a responsibility to be truthful when talking about travel. May be some had a better experience in Hanoi than I did but surely they were able to notice the pollution, the noise, the total disregard of locals for hygiene (they have actually SNEEZED in a dish that I just bought and still were gonna wrap it up for me, like nothing happen!) and a general hostile, money-grabbing attitude the people have toward tourists. If someone told me this I wouldn't have wasted valuable time and money to go and see for myself. Anyway, my take is: beware of Northern Vietnam, you are bound to feel disappointed and (may be) taken advantage of. There are better places in SE Asia you can visit instead.