Hanoi - Vietnam

We left Phonsavan in Laos on a bus to Hanoi at 2:00 in the morning. We arrived at the Vietnam border at 6:30 in the morning and waited an hour for the post to open and finally we could go through. We then spent another 11 hours on the sleeper bus and then transferred onto a public bus for another 2 hours to Hanoi and then a horrendous taxi drive to our guesthouse. Let me just tell you that the roads are not tarred or straight...they are dodgy dirt roads with potholes, that are barely big enough to fit a vehicle, let alone a bus and on coming traffic. You share these roads with dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, cows, pigs, goats, water buffalo, bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, vehicles, funny 3 wheeler type things, other buses, trucks, trucks carrying huge logs and other cargo as well children and anything else that has the ability to be mobile. Its hair raising...trust me! Anyway,  finally 20 hours after leaving... we could get something to eat and sleep!

The Vietnamese border post.

The actual building. Some poor dude thought he could get his visa on arrival at the border, The Vietnamese sent him back to Luang Prabang, Laos (only 12 hours back the way he came) to get the Visa and then he'd have to do the 26 hour bus ride back to Hanoi....SHAME!

It was so misty you could barely see in front of you. We were high up in the mountains and it was freezing. That's the bus by the way!

In case you were wondering what a sleeper bus looks like, you have seats that lie completely flat, you don't sit, you lie down. Super uncomfortable if you don't sleep for 20 hours!

It's dirty and mangy, and gritty and if there were goggas and things I wouldn't be surprised. You get packed in like sardines, people even lay on the floor. 

Arriving in Hanoi...it is crazy, hectic, chaotic, madness, insanity, humid, busy, loud and just to mention again its CHAOS!

Back to city lights, high rise buildings, sky scrapers, buzzing cafe's, swanky clubs, crazy traffic, hectic people, huge malls, designer movie cinemas, Gucci, Hugo Boss and millions and millions of people. Its quite a nice change after the quietness of Laos.

Beautiful cards they make at the market.

Welcome to Vietnam - what a place! 

It is so crazy in the streets, this place is so packed, its so crazy, you can barely move anywhere! Its totally insane!!!

Vietnames ceramics. All hand crafted.

 Every street is lined with millions of shops you can buy anything and everything your heart desires. There is something for everyone...street food from chicken feet to gorgeous donuts and cheap jewelry, bookshops, internet cafe's, suave clubs and restaurants, hotels to designer clothing - It is the most amazing thing you've ever seen. This city is completely unbelievable! Never ever ever, EVER go anywhere without a map or a Lonely Planet!

Its so hectic, there are so many motorbikes on the roads. I mean like millions. They have zero regard for the rules of the road...when you cross streets, even at a zebra crossing, you have to close your eyes, and walk, and hope for the best otherwise you'll never ever ever ever get across the street....they just never end!

At night, the shops bring all their stuff out onto the street...and it creates even more disaster. 

Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the old city.

View of some of the city from an upstairs cafe. 

Restaurants and shops over looking the lake.

Typical street in Hanoi. We are staying in the Old Quarter of Vietnam, which is apparently "The" place to stay. We are smack, bang right in the middle of everything, including the madness!

This is Thap Rua - Turtle Tower. Legend has it that in the mid 15th century, Heaven sent Emperor Le Thai To a sword which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. After the war, he came across a giant golden turtle on the surface of the lake who grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths restoring the sword to its divine owners. The lakes name Ho Hoan Kiem means Lake of the restored sword.

I think I mentioned that there are millions of motorbikes...I cannot stress enough to anyone reading this, that there are millions of motorbikes as in, its like nothing you've ever seen in your life! Almost like millions of ants all over the streets.

Ya, and they pimp their rides - Asia style!

Even dogs ride motorbikes in this place, that's how many motorbikes there are!

True Story! But I have no space, so I don't shop!

However, we went to watch the new Avengers movie today and the mall was so cold inside, I had to get a jersey. We went down the road to a dodgy side street clothing shop and I got this cute jacket for R20.

Oh yes, not only motorbikes, millions of Vespa's as well...

This is just remarkable...their KFC is 4 stories high...can you believe this?????? Its all lounges and tables and stuff...its absolutely incredible! It puts ours to shame!

Like i've said before, the hats are no joke. Everyone really does wear them! 

Now, this is the mall...WOW! It makes Sandton look like a ship wreck!

Amazed! 

United Colours of Benetton - we don't get it anymore in SA. The clothes are divine!

Ya, pretty awesome! 6 stories, 2 different buildings, a games centre and everything else in between.

The Cinema - this was just the cherry on the top. We had a couple's seat - like a big couch to sit on. They have restaurants, coffee bars, couches and chill areas...I have never seen anything like this. 

This is as you walk in...It really makes something like going to a movie such an awesome experience!

Oh, look...more motorbikes!

Walking back from the movie...gorgeous evening...the mall is miles away from the Hostel, so it took nearly an hour to walk back. 

Gees, did you know that Vietnam goes all the way down to the South  Pole? I didn't...but according to this map it does...LOL

Monuments on the way back...everything is really beautiful and old and there is a definite French Colonial feel.

The entrance to Ngoc Son Temple - which sits on Hoan Kiem Lake. Every morning at about 6am locals gather and do t'ai chi on the shore.

There is a huge flag with a red star that marks the temple. 

There is a scarlet bridge that separates the temple from the shore. At night they light it up. 

Pretty cool huh?

Its quite something to go onto it...its like you are in a pink haze with the light it gives off. 

Crazy city life...

fancy that, more motorbikes...you have to walk on the street because they park on the side walk. When they drive, they just go   and hoot. No one indicates or obeys any rules or anything...buses and vehicles alike. It is the scariest thing... 

Evening view from a place we grabbed a bite to eat. 

The lake and surrounds.