As you all know, we finally made it to Hanoi. A pleasant surprise and a much superior city to Ho Chi Min, we (I) have embraced the city life and have really enjoyed everything the busy streets offers.
The Old Quarter, with narrow streets, exotic smells and women with baskets full of freshly steamed buns make it a walker's paradise. There are so many interesting things to see and do, that getting lost in the bustle is half the fun. The city is alive with cafes, shops and restaurants.
The mornings have been especially rewarding. With the lake at the centre of the Old Quarter, the Vietnamese rise early to do Tai Chi on the lake's edge.
The smell of the French bakeries is irresistible and the chocolate croissants are on par with those of Paris (I should know, I gained about 5 pounds pretty much sustaining myself on chocolate croissants 10 years ago).
Young Vietnamese love is all around and the shopping...
With everything so cheap it is easy to fill a suitcase full of souvenirs. Lacquered bamboo, tea sets, silk anything and everything - I went a little crazy.
While Rob graciously offered to take care of bike boxes, I spent an entire day filling bags with goodies. By the time I arrived at the hotel, the bikes were taped up ready to go and Rob had planned our exit strategy from Hanoi.
So after a surprisingly comfortable night train, today I write you from Sapa - a lovely town in the northern mountains. We are ending the trip with a rather big treat - tomorrow we head into the mountains for a 18 km hike, home-stay with a tribal family and then back to Sapa to catch the night train on Friday.
Stay tuned because (weather permitting), the pics will be superb.
The Old Quarter, with narrow streets, exotic smells and women with baskets full of freshly steamed buns make it a walker's paradise. There are so many interesting things to see and do, that getting lost in the bustle is half the fun. The city is alive with cafes, shops and restaurants.
The mornings have been especially rewarding. With the lake at the centre of the Old Quarter, the Vietnamese rise early to do Tai Chi on the lake's edge.
The smell of the French bakeries is irresistible and the chocolate croissants are on par with those of Paris (I should know, I gained about 5 pounds pretty much sustaining myself on chocolate croissants 10 years ago).
Young Vietnamese love is all around and the shopping...
With everything so cheap it is easy to fill a suitcase full of souvenirs. Lacquered bamboo, tea sets, silk anything and everything - I went a little crazy.
While Rob graciously offered to take care of bike boxes, I spent an entire day filling bags with goodies. By the time I arrived at the hotel, the bikes were taped up ready to go and Rob had planned our exit strategy from Hanoi.
So after a surprisingly comfortable night train, today I write you from Sapa - a lovely town in the northern mountains. We are ending the trip with a rather big treat - tomorrow we head into the mountains for a 18 km hike, home-stay with a tribal family and then back to Sapa to catch the night train on Friday.
Stay tuned because (weather permitting), the pics will be superb.
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