Hello, Vietnam!

We've been in Vietnam for 11 days now and I wanted to try to blog more often here so that it is not just one long post our experiences here. So let's start with Hanoi. We LOVED it! It was a really charming city with lots of atmosphere and beautiful buildings with a French influenced architecture. The food was fantastic - Asian and French - that translates into things like great spring rolls, chocolate croissants, strong coffee. How can you go wrong with that? You can't!

We really enjoyed just walking around in the old quarter with all its small streets buzzing with atmosphere and motorbikes by the gazillions. Each area (street actually) sells certain items - this is because back many years ago, it was where they would produce such items. For instance, in the old quarter there streets with just lantern makers, or silk/tailor shops, or baskets etc. Streets are named accordingly like Silk Street (in Vietnamese of course).

Throughout the city there are many areas with wide boulevards and big colonial French type of buildings. Along with this you have a beautiful lake right in the heart of the old quarter which was very pleasant to walk around. We took a pleasant stroll the first day we were there. We enjoyed an area of the Old Quarter that had some galleries and quaint cafes. That's when we first discovered the great French style pastries that are on offer in Vietnam.

We continued our stroll and checked out the Opera House and Cinematique, which is a small theater within a pretty courtyard that shows English speaking movies mostly to expats and of course foreigners who are visiting Hanoi. They were showing Western themed movies, so no interest there. Onwards we went and eventually landed at Au Lac, a very Parisien lake cafe with chairs in a courtyard on the sidewalk. Ice coffee! And an excellent one at that!

Hanoi is where we had to learn how to cross the street and not be run over by a motorbike. This sounds easier than it is. It realy does take some guts to get the hang out it, which is essentially that you just have to start crossing and let the motorbikes weave around you. Weave they do along with the cycle rickshaws and many people on bikes. If you didn't do it this way, you would never be able to cross the road for sure.

We saw a dead body in Hanoi. It was Ho Chi Minh's! There he is within his mausoleum all embalmed and there for the viewing. You are herded through the place but it is quite something to see him just right there. Meanwhile it should be noted that he had no interest in actually having that type of set-up for after his death. It seems a bit strange to then go ahead and put him there.

We kept finding ourselves in 2 places - Bia Hoi Junction and Restaurant 69. Bia Hoi Junction is an intersection in the Old Quarter where on each corner a little store-like place sold extremely cheap beers from a keg. You sit on little plastic chairs that are placed on the small bit of sidewalk in front of the shop / keg. Eventually as things get hopping - and they do from like 5pm-midnight - the chairs start getting put into the street where you have to watch your legs as you may get run over by a passing motorcycle that is zipping by. The whole world is sitting there on the four corners facing each other - Vietnamese and foreigners alike - drinking this beer that costs 20 cents. Bia Hoi is the special brew of Hanoi. Apparently Saigon has its own brew too (as did Halong Bay (bia Halong)) but not sure if they do the same thing with the sidewalk set up with little plastic chairs. Anyway we enjoyed the people watching, especially all the vendors going by on their pedal bikes loaded down with stuff or the women who carry two baskets that are supported by a wooden beam that they hold on their shoulder. They carry everything in this manner - fruits (like 4 watermelons on each side!), bras(!), whole entire meals of chicken soup (pho) in a vat along with bowls to be able to serve you right there! Amazing to see and of course great photo opportunities.

By the way, the Vietnamese love their little plastic chairs and tables. These chairs look like children's chairs and the tables are maybe only a foot and a half off the ground. Throughout Hanoi there were many food stands set up on the sidewalk and attached to each food stand has its own set of the chairs and tables. The Vietnamese like to eat out on the street.

Speaking of small things, everything here is small as this is a country of small people. I would pity the 6 foot guy who has to sleep on the train here or sit within one of the bus seats. I would say that my height is just reaching the maximum for comfort.

Ok back on track here - Restaurant 69. This was a great restaurant around the corner from where we stayed in the Old Quarter. Bun cha was my favorite thing that I ate - little pork hamburger like things which you'd eat with fresh mint, bean sprouts, rice, and a fish dipping sauce. Really good! The margaritas were a hit for Veronica and me at the Restaurant 69 too!

I have to comment on how nice the Vietnamese people are. They are so mild mannered and pleasant - and genuinely so. I think of all the countries I have traveled in within my lifetime, these are the nicest people. I really enjoy talking to them and laughing with them, as they often like to do.

So, as a start within Vietnam, Hanoi did not disappoint and was a big hit for us!