to Viet Nam!
Traveling to Viet Nam 10/10 from Taiwan
then Thailand after on 10/24.
We flew VietJet Airlines from Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Our friend Mai in Hanoi showed us around, starting with Egg Coffee/Egg Cocoa at a beautiful hidden coffee shop
At Train Street, where we had a drink and watched the train move by at arm's length.
Train Street Video
We and Mai on Train Street.
On Sunday, Mai arrange her friend Hawen to show us around. We went to the Temple of Literature
While at the temple, numerous children came up to us. 2 teen groups asked for selfies with me (must have been the beard and hat), and young kids 'interviewed' Lareena, practicing their English!
VIsited the One Pillar Pagoda / Lotus Pedestal (Built in 1049), near the Ho Chi Min Mausoleum
Caught dinner at the S&L Diner in the Old Quarter, run by a guy from Philadelphia (we chatted, he has an Uncle in Parsippany (don't know him.)). Ate there twice, and once between had a free chocolate float!
Took a couple of days to recover from too much sensory input.
Hanoi thoughts. Safe. Inexpensive (though money could certainly be spent! Our hotel is away from central Hanoi, but a $4.00 taxi away. Taxi's are like Uber but on the "Grab" app. EZ. Our hotel is $11./night. Close to the Sheraton which is $142, and near a mid-range at $38, the Dragon Hotel. Dinner for two is $10-20. It's safe. Traffic is crazy, but not as bad as Cairo. Scooters everywhere, and cars and buses vying for position and honking warnings. Wouldn't want to drive a car, but might consider a scooter. Taxi is best.
We visited Ha Long Bay for a one night cruise, with caves, island hike and kayaking. 3 hour bus each way, so essentially Noon, overnight, to Noon the following day activities.
Our little boat
First stop was this limestone cave. Not Luray or Carlsbad, but really impressive!
We visited Train Street again, this time in the evening, with our new friend Kanae traveling from Japan, who we met on the Ha long Bay trip.
Took a tour bus day trip to Tam Coc Ninh for a bicycle ride to the Temple to the first Kings of Vietnam, row-boating, hiking up to the Dragon, and more. 2 hours each way, 13 hours total.1
Took tons of photos and video. Our hotel WiFi was iffy, and this took all night to post:
Ninh Binh river trip. Vietnam on YouTube
Above is the view of the dragon on the opposite peak. Below is the view from 1/2 way up to the dragon peak.
The hike up to the dragon was 525+ steps each way, uneven and no railings, and getting up to the dragon itself was climbing rough rock. I'm very surprised no-one falls on the stairs or rocks for as many people there were. Still, some were doing it in flip-flops!
Took the sleeper overnight train to Da Nang.
Bella Merry Hotel $11/night. There's a POOL on the roof!
A little Rainy the first night, off and on.
Rather than a relocating again via flight, or 17hr train, we decided not to go to Ho Chi Min (Saigon)
Da Nang was much calmer than Hanoi. Wider streets, less crowded, at least this time of year. The number of hotels there was incredible. Little ones to huge resorts. It was like the Jersey Shore and the Las Vegas strip!
We really took a few days to rest, but Thursday we visited Hoi An old town.
The Japanese Bridge:
Each evening the lantern boats go out.
THEN flying to Bangkok, Thailand.