Hello From Hanoi
02.01.2007 - 30.01.2007
15 °C
Hello,
PART 1: End of SGN
Wow alot to write today,
On the Thursday we did a little more exploring of SGN.
We went down to the spice market, huge bags of all different spices. Great smells. Marc had a try of some Snake wine. The lady that gave this to him said it will give him strong arm, back and penis.(he said that he felt good,but no other commment has made and I didnt ask 
)
Dinner was at the street market.. (I know how brave am I)
I had shrimp with rice.. Best part was I picked the shrimp live from a tank. So I think they were the freshest I have even had.
We have found the best beer is Tiger (I know it is Thai, But it is the best so far)
PART 2: Start of HANOI
Well we got into Hanoi very late on the Thursday/early Friday Morning.
We thought that everything was going smoothly, As our guy was there to collect us from the airport. Little did we know that it was all going to change when we got to our Accommodation that we booked on the internet in SGN.We got done by the HOTEL BANDITS OF HANOI!!!!
First the driver could not find the hotel, once the hotel was found the owner said that they have filled our room as we were late. (We did give our flight number and ETA)Then he says we can stay in our other hotel,Went to other hotel to find the wrong room and the worst smell ever. We said NO to this offer. We then were taken to another hotel. The room was clean and no smell. We took it, as it was 1.30am and we were just to tired to find a room anywhere else.
We did not stay at this place for our next night. Turned out they wanted us to pay more and we were not happy with that.
We are now staying in a great place called the Camellia Hotel.
The property is fantastic, Kind and helpfull staff & more importantly cheap clean rooms. We are paying around $15USD per night for the room.
Yesterday was a bluge day no sight seeing to be had. Just late breakfast, And sussing out our trip to the north.
Last night we had dinner & a few drinks in the Old Quarter.
We went to a bar first called the Quan Bia Minh, it is out of the Lonely planet, stated as were most backpackers like to hang as the beer is cheap. We wanted to ask a few of the people about their travels to the North to get an idea??
There were none.... On our way home we went to the street market. I brought a hat, gloves that turn into mitten and a scaf for $5USD. I needed them as it will be freezing in the north. When we finished there we headed back to the Hotel. We stopped at what I guess you would call a beer corner. Lots of kegs of local brew. Cost around 15cents (crazy)It was not Tiger but I gave it a go. Marc really liked it.. I had one and went back to Tiger. We meet a guy that is from Las Vagas (Jim) and is doing a solo push bike tour of the whole of Vietnam. Yes you herd correctly ON A BIKE?
We will get to meet back up with him in SGN on the 30th Before we come home. He will have some great stories I bet.
Love and Kisses
Em & Marc
PS we miss you so much Abi xx
Posted by emma78 06.01.2007 10:46 AM Archived in Backpacking | Vietnam
Marc and Emma:
Please bring back Snake Wine. Disco needs to have a sip to make his leg strong, because one of his front paws is sore. He is limping but still gets the job done. Hope the Camellia Hotel has running water. I'm going to Las Vegas tomorrow, but it is not as beautiful as Hanoi. Keep up the great blog!
Love,
DAD
06.01.2007 by LG051041