Blogs from Red River Delta, Vietnam, Asia - page 6

An early start today and a drive through the rush hour traffic, watching the Vietnamese going about their business. The roads (and pavements) are full of people carrying an array of goods on motorbikes. The parks are full of people working out; tai chi, martial arts, aerobics and walking backwards are all popular pursuits. When we finally board our flight, an hour behind schedule, I get into a debate with a Vietnamese man who seems to think my seat is not my seat if he’s already sitting in it. I hold firm – I’m not giving up a window seat without a fight. Eventually an air hostess intervenes as I am blocking the aisle. We arrive in Hanoi and go for lunch by Hoan Kiem Lake in a restaurant with a great view and rubbish food ... read more

Woolly says – The usual clouds were loitering in the sky but with a packed schedule I thrust my raincoat into Jo’s bag, (it’s good to be prepared here), and led the way into the busy streets. Heading in the opposite direction to the lake we found that having walked for a good ten minutes that the crowds had lessened and that the pavements were useable, we were headed across the city towards one of its most important monuments. Ho Chí Minh (also known as Nguyễn Tất Thành and Nguyễn Ái Quốc), was a Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader who was Chairman and First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Vietnam, Prime Minister (1945–55) and President (1945–69) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). Little is known of his early life although it is believed he ... read more

Woolly says – I’d been up for hours with my trunk pressed against the window praying for the rain to stop, as each droplet fell I sighed, this wasn’t the weather we wanted for the day, I sighed again. I felt like joining in with the sighing but as the weather wasn’t going to change there was no point in letting it dampen our spirits, having handed my small friend a snack we climbed onto our mini bus and set off. Woolly says – The days adventures included a guided tour, not our usual thing but having tried to work out the details of the trip on our own it had been cheaper to book with a company. I sat watching the traffic stream past and counting the raindrops on the vans window, there ... read more

Hanoi comes alive at night. They know how to put on a show for young tourists. There are a couple of streets heaving with lit up clubs blasting out Asian house. We didn’t get home until 2am and subsequently slept through the morning. We spent the afternoon aimlessly wondering the streets of Hanoi with it being a cooler 19 degrees. There was a crowd of people outside a building carrying stretchers and extinguishers, but laughing like they’re having a hilarious time. Turns out it was just a fire drill... I wish ours were as fun as that. We then saw a few police vans and 20+ officers literally taking civilians’ bikes off the street. Next thing we know, bikes are quickly being driven off and hidden behind shutters left right and centre, the Vietnamese were in ... read more

After my first blog, you'll be happy to hear that day two has been exceptionally better so far. I feel like a strong, independent woman who got a good nights sleep. Its 5.00PM now and I am taking advantage of this time to write before my journey up to Sa Pa. I've put my trust in the good people here at the Rendezvous Hanoi Hotel to book my overnight train to Lao Cai. That's where I am left to organise transport to Sa Pa - at 6.00AM in the morning...the joys of a 'carefree' traveller! Jetlag worked its magic and at 6.00AM this morning I woke up feeling ready and hungry. I shared a room with 4 others and somehow 3 had already left - maybe they just couldn't handle it and caught the first plane ... read more