Vietnam time debacles 1 and 2

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To continue the last blog, our time hanging out in the reception got more interesting. Shouldn't laugh, but there was phone call from a group of 14 very angry Chinese tourists demanding to know where their pickup was at the train station. Their English and Peter's English is not the best, but he managed eventually to work out that they had got off the train at the stop before Hanoi by mistake. This station is 15k form Hanoi. The pickup guy had been at Hanoi station since 4.30am. They were told they would have to pay themselves again.meventually they rocked up with all their luggage,trundled it in and then started with all their travel requests, including seats on the same open tour bus for all of them together this week, bearing in mind it is Tet and therefore very very busy everywhere. peter was giving really good advice but they were shouting the odds over every price he quoted. There are about 10 other agents in the same alley they could go and check. Eventually they all left for something or other, and we were left to have breakfast with the other guests. Lovely chats with French Indian and Liverpudlian tourists. We'd met the French women when we were here last weekend, and they wanted to know about our Sapa trip. We got our room at 9.30, which was great, we could have a shower at long last and assemble a huge bag of laundry. Debacle number 1.

We asked what was the latest time we could give in laundry and get it back by 5. By midday. We dropped it off when we went out at 11. Found a tailors with nice dresses in it and Sam chose 2 to be made up today, no problem, come back at 7 tonight. She said we are leaving tomorrow, so it had to be done today. This was the start of debacle number 2.

Dose about in Highlands Coffee for a while, then lunch at the little cafe near the hotel we'd been to before. One girl doing the waitressing and cooking everything from fresh, so there was a bit of a wait, but we had lots of time. Delicious food, £2.50 each with a drink, but looking round the walls were thick with dust, floor dirty, walls need a good scrub. We didn't think twice about eating somewhere we would never go in at home.

At 5 there was no laundry, and the Chinese group were still haranguing Peter in reception. 6.30, he said, it was picked up late. Not the end of the world, except that it wasn't there at 6.30 either and we were going out. I had wanted to wear some of it, but that was not to be., said it absolutely HAD to be there tonight as we are leaving at 7.30 am. He said it will be here in 30 mins but we went out and dint wait.

Debacle number 2 - at 7 there was a new girl, very young, in the tailor's. Sorry, very busy, back at 8. So we went off for a drink or two. Back at 8. Nothing. Very embarrassed and stressed she was and said they would deliver straight to the hotel. No good, as Sam couldnt try them on and check they were OK. So very sorry, we would like our money back as we're going in the morning. Getting VERY stressed, the girl said she had no money there, phoned someone and passed the phone to Sam, but every time Sam said she wasn't happy they cut her off. We stood our ground and eventually the girl left the shop, went and borrowed the deposit and handed it over. Disappointing all round, as now Sam has no dresses and it spoilt the nice time she'd had choosing them.

Back to the hotel and there was the laundry. A bit scrumpled but all present and correct. Chinese tourists still at it, demanding slippers.

So we've now had a few experiences where people promise stuff, are dependent on others to deliver, and then make excuse after excuse to save face, instead of being upfront about it. Very different culture, frustrating to deal with when we have time constraints. And we know it is often not the person we are dealing with directly, so try to be polite always but insistent. We must look so impatient to them!

All was not lost today. We managed to cross some scary roads in one piece and avoid the doughnut sellers.

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[Julian Shirley]

Roads
Crossing roads in HaNoi is easy - just walk! If you keep a steady pace (no rabbit dashing) the traffic just flows organically around you!