Oggy, oggy, oggy, Han-oi oi oi!

With Mr Amy not warming to life in Saigon, what better time to take a trip to Hanoi.  A cleaner, cooler, less humid and more relaxed city, Mr Amy adapted far more easily to these surroundings.  The French influence here is more obvious than in Saigon and all I had read about it developing more gracefully than its Southern counterpart appear accurate.

Our £12 a night room was amazing, I was quite chuffed with my little self at the find.  Conveniently located on a quiet street in the centre of the city, we didn’t use any xe-oms at all.  After exploring Hoan Kiem Lake, The Opera House and Temple of Literature day one had run away with us.

The ceremonial drum at the Temple of Literature

Uncle Ho’s dying wish was to be cremated, his ashes scattered half in the north of the country, half in the south.  However, the Vietnamese ‘yes phenomenon’, meaning “yes I have heard what you have said, but will do as I please regardless” means even Uncle Ho was ignored and fobbed off.  As such, he is now preserved in a glass cabinet in the centre of Hanoi for all to gawp at.  Naturally, we fancied a gawp to satisfy our morbid curiosity, so day two saw us pottering down to the mausoleum, ensuring legs and booby bits were suitable covered.  Alas, the queue was colossal – fellow gawpy hopefuls lined Hung Vuong Street, needless to say we didn’t stop to stare, a visit to the Presidential Palace and Uncle H’s former house on stilts were just a stone’s throw away.

The following two days were spent cruising Halong Bay.  A three hour drive from Hanoi, holiday makers flock here for a relaxing break away from the sensory assault of the cities.  Unfortunately, with so many people having the same idea, it can become somewhat of a tourist conveyor belt, losing the idyllic charm most seek.  After lunch onboard we cruised around the limestone formations and stopped off to see inside the local caves, lit with a multitude of disco lights!  The remainder of the trip was spent chatting with fellow passengers, sunbathing and admiring the scenery.  All in all, we have some nice photos, but the experience itself wasn’t all it is marketed as.

Floating fruit stall - Halong Bay

After another two days of mooching around the vaguely interesting points on our map, we find ourselves back in Saigon.  Thumbs up for Hanoi, shame a transfer to my company’s school there is out of the question.

Off to Mũi Né tomorrow for some R&R.

A xx