We woke at 3:00 am to catch our flight from Bangkok to Hanoi. The taxi driver wouldn't use the meter because it was "out of town". The negotiated fare was still less than $20 for a 40 minute ride.
The Bangkok airport was insane. A giant line with no info as to what row was for what flight. Luckily, I overheard someone ask for Hanoi and we were able to jockey into position without too much fuss.
On arrival in Hanoi we were met with more efficiency. A giant line to get your visa with the officer snatching the paperwork (unfinished by the way) and passports out of our hands. We were seated and only 10 minutes later called to the front, charged $45 each for the visa and we were on our way.
Hanoi. Everyone we have met had been super friendly. The car driver who tried to take us to a hotel instead of to our destination was even super friendly. I think he thought he was doing us a favor (and getting a kickback of course) by bringing us to a backpacker hotel. After we refused to leave the car unless we were brought to our destination. He apologized and took us there.
The people at Sapa O'Chau were very nice. They have a room to rest, a place to leave luggage we don't need and, best of all, a bathroom.
Luci and I walked around a lake in the old quarter and met many young Vietnamese who wanted to practice English. Being American, again, has made us minor celebrities. Luci made a new Facebook friend and we spoke to many 11 year olds, some high schoolers and 3 20 year old economics students answering their questions about us a d our experiences and asking our own.
We had a delicious lunch and saw many shops that we may revisit when we return.
Hanoi is hot and humid and full of motorbikes like many other Asian cities but also has a decidedly European feel. French words are interspersed throughout the signs and some of the architecture has a European look. Of course there are big populist statues to heroes and martyrs and red flags with yellow stars or hammers and sickle are everywhere, as are people trying to sell you green caps with red stars. Capitalism is alive and well in Communist Vietnam! I have to say that both Luci and are very impressed with the city and the people. We are excited both for the countryside and for our return to this city.
Thanks for reading!