Central Hanoi and Old Town

A later start today after an excellent Melia hotel breakfast. First stop was the "Hanoi Hilton" aka the Hoa Lo prison. Initially built by the French, and used to incarcerate Viatnamese in the 1930s, and  then the revolutionaries during the French war in the 40s. Subsequently used by the Vietnamese themselves as a place to imprison US Airforce pilots (who gave it its nickname) shot down during the Vietnam war.

Next stop, just around the corner to the Qua Sun Pagoda (Buddhist temple).

Then a scary cab journey up to the old town to the famous Giang Cafe for an egg coffee...yes, that is coffee made with egg!

Following our coffee break, we embarked on a lengthy walk around old Hanoi, a maze of bustling streets alive with incredibly noisy traffic (why do they pip their horns incessantly?...because they can).  This is a matter of taking your life in your hands, you can't walk on the pavement, because the shops spill out onto the pavement, and where they haven't,  it is packed tightly with parked motor bikes. Crossing the road is even more of a leap of faith, it's no good waiting for a gap in the traffic, because there never is one, you just have to step off the kerb with confidence and continue over at a steady pace and just hope that all the motor bikes and cars will steer around you. So far it has worked out OK and we are still alive!

After dicing with the traffic, a beer was called for, which we took in the very refined colonial  style cafe overlooking the lake in the centre of town. Then on for a late lunch consisting of a bowl of Pho (beef and noodle soup spiced with chillis, fresh lime and fish sauce) all for £2 a bowl.

Time waits for no man, so a quick dash back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes, then out again for 'sundowners' at the chic 19th floor Rooftop Bar at dusk.

A little night market shopping was to follow, and then off to the elegant Red Bean restaurant for a fabulous meal.

...and finally back to the hotel to pack and prepare for our journey to Ha Long Bay early tomorrow. Au revoir Hanoi!

Strange Things See Today?

...has to be "vegetarian" chicken curry!