Hanoi Sucks

25.11. – 2.12.2011

Got stuck to Hanoi for a week. Partly due to my own laziness, partly because of interesting fellow travelers and partly because later I found out Jasper & Elise will be coming too so I wanted to wait for them.

Right after border

Burning “money” and incense to calm the dead, just like in China.

Playing badminton on the streets, just like in China.

Got my Mongolian-bought jeans cut to shorts for 70cents by this lovely lady.

Vietnam is very different than china, more than I thought anyhow. Hanoi is like the London subway except everyone is moving on a motorbike! It is a good place to hang for few days and scout the sights if that’s your thing.

Some wedding pictures I snapped around the lake.

This one is quite funny

Personally I concentrated on the cheap local draught beer they serve in the street corners (18cents for a glass). And of course tried the local delicacies such as noodle soup (pho) and beef noodles. The culinary exploration here is limited by choice (by comparison to China anyhow), the price (unless you speak some Vietnamese, you pay double, non-negotiable) and the sheer amount of places serving western food, which more often than not (it seems) has been my choice of diet in Hanoi.

Right! Found a great place serving VietMacs, burgers made of meat sandwiched in between steamed rice “buns”. Was delicious!

Paris? (anyone?)

In Vietnam you quickly learn (have to) navigate the traffic that looks quite intimidating at first but has a certain beat to it. So jump in, walk straight and have no fear or too much respect for others and you will be fine. Actually thinking about getting a motorbike myself but maybe start off in a more quiet place.

Another thing you have to learn fast is that the viatnemese street vendors and moto-taxis WILL rip you off. Many times. But after a few times you will learn the actual prices and won’t be ripped off so bad (trust me, you will still overpay). Anyhow even so it’s mostly very cheap to eat, sleep and drink here so I don’t mind paying a little tourist tax.

The pedestrian bridge on our way to bus station.

Building foundations

Ramps for the motorbikes are absolutely everywhere

And that’s the way we roll…

Nokia sells out so quick they have to put less popular products on their place.

This guy (amongst many) liked my hat and wanted to buy it. He also wanted to take my picture. But since he already had my hat and sitting on a motorbike, I figured I would just put the phone back to my pocket.

Most of the moto-taxis moonlight as pimps and dealers, so everything you want is available here for a price. Although watch out for those that try to “massage” your valuables right from your pockets.

Managed to send some of my cold climate gear back to my bro at home. He will need it more than me 😉 also had to part with my Beijing dancing shoes as I no longer have space for them.

After a long rather boring week in Hanoi, we head towards halong bay and cat ba island for some beach and motorbike action!