I used to stay in a tiny hotel in the old part of town. Very noisy, very cheerful, everybody out in the street from 6am. Some houses without running water, all of them small, old and mostly in bad shape. The whole area is a market, you can buy almost anything. Every street sells something different and the produce gives the street its name. In one street they sell T-Shirts, in the next it's towels or paint or headstones or jewelry....
In Hanoi the main means of travel is on 2 wheels, either bikes or mopeds. The newest Honda Dream II was all the rave, while I was there. The only way to cross the street, when 200 mopeds are headed your way - just keep your calm and walk slowly! They will drive around you, just don't make any sudden movements. Trust me, it works!
Breakfast Hanoi-style: Grab a little red plastic stool, sit down and slurp a noodle soup (Pho) - it's either chicken (Pho Ga) or beef (Pho Ba) and it's really tasty! Beware of the green chillies!
Need a haircut? The faint hearted go to a Western Hotel, like me. For the others, all that's needed is a place to hang up that mirror.... |
