Shameless Selfie Stick Snap!
After our long 30hr bus journey from Luang Prabang to Hanoi, we were so happy to get in to the hostel we had booked. Even if it was very basic with the shower literally over the toilet (no seriously you could shit, shower and shave all at once if you really wanted too...and I did). Stepping outside my first thoughts on Hanoi were that it was mental. Everytime you tried to cross the street you felt as if you were in the final round of Total Wipeout. There were scooters and cars everywhere coming and going in all directions, even on the pavements. We learnt that the best thing to do was to find a local family that were crossing, pretend to be the long lost milk mans wins and you would maybe stand a chance of survival.
There isn't a huge deal to do in Hanoi. When we were there the city was hosting a Dragon Festival which was pretty cool. There were large colourful fabric dragons being paraded all around the street so that was exciting and a good laugh to dance along side to like a dickhead and there are also number of war museums that are interesting and worth a visit but that is really it. Oh, we did go to this water puppet show, famous throughout Vietnam that was all in Vietnamese so we didn't have a scooby what was going on but I am pretty sure the story was about this poor lad who couldn't catch a fish and then a bit of soft porn between two water dragons? Very moving.
Even though there isn't much to see in Hanoi in terms of site seeing, I did recieve the best meal I have ever had there, at the night market for less than $2. It was in a 'restaurant' that didn't even have a name never mind a proper kitchen but maybe five or so large out door grills with 10-15 men frying and chucking pans around like crazy. We sat down on plastic seats and were served crispy noodles with beef....
Yes so it sort of looks like the food you used to make in cooking at school and feed to the birds on the walk home but honestly it was unreal. Like that good that you start making sex noises after every mouthful? And everything goes blurry and it's just you and the plate of food? Yeah, that good.
Even though the craziness of Hanoi might not be to everyone's taste, I really liked it. It also serves the best local beer, another reason why I loved it.
Halong Bay
Ahhh Halong Bay, one if the reasons why I fell in love with Vietnam. This is an absolute must if you ever vist. We booked a 1 night/2 day cruise through our hotel for $100 per person and it was worth every penny. All your food is included, kayaking, swimming, cave tour, a visit to the pearl farm and you even got a karaoke party at night. I sang Sk8r Boi and I don't mean to blow my own trumpet but I think my head banging and air guitar impressed the other passengers - so much so that they avoided eye contact with me the next morning, probably because they were still in shock at the emotion and passion of the performance. Yeah that was definitely why...
The views from the cruise were absolutely amazing and kayaking was the best way to really see Halong Bay. I have never kayaked before and I only nearly cried twice when the current got strong so I am pretty much a professional now. Another thing to add to my CV along with Karaoke champ.
The only thing about the Halong Bay excursion that I think could be improved on is the cave tour. I understand that it is a popular destination for tourists and things have had to be altered slightly but when you see actual plugs and sockets growing out of the rocks and a bins in the shape of boulders it sort of ruins your 'Indian Jones for a Day' fantasy.
Other than that, this was the highlight of my trip so far....
Hue, Hoi An & Da Nang
On our way to Hoi Chi Minh we decided to make a few stops on the way. We only had a couple of days in each place but it was great to see more remote areas like Hue and Hoi An. We visited the Imperial City in Hue, rode bikes in Hoi An (such a beautiful town, a must!), tasted our first Vietnamese coffee (addicted) and in the city of Da Nang we took scooters up to the Marble Mountains and Lady Buddha statue which had incredible views of the city, (okay so we rode on the back of our tour guides scooters after both myself and Rustin nearly drove the dam things in to walls on the practice run).
Globesquatting at the top of the Marble Mountains in Da Nang!
Hoi Chi Minh
The capital city is again constantly buzzing. Honestly there are just people forever sitting around on plastic chairs eating rice and noodles. The first thing we were told about Hoi Chi Minh when we arrived was that it was notorious for bag snatchers on mopeds. I have been wanting to test out my self defence skills I learnt off the Miss Congeneality movie for years now anyway so I saw it as an opportunity more than a 'shitting my knickers' moment.
However, much to my disappointment it was absolutely fine. If you're sensible and have a bum bag (ha to all you that bullied me for having one) there is no stress.
In Hoi Chi Minh we visited the Cu Chi War Tunnels and it was pretty damn interesting. We got to go down in to the tunnels and crawl through them aswell as being able to shoot a M30 machine gun.... again, shat masel.
So yeah everyone should watch out now or I will 'bust a cap in yo ass', thats if I am not dead after somebody punching me in the head repeatedly for saying that.
Overall Vietnam was awesome. There is so much history and so many things to do and see and my only regret is not having longer...and maybe for not explaining to the husband of that family that we weren't actually the long lost kids of the milk man, would of probably avoided that street brawl.
Now for Cambodia......
P.S - Oh and before I forget, here is an upper body workout for you all to try. Complete 50 reps of each exercise before moving on to the next and yet again.....
No equipment means NO EXCUSES!
Enjoy!
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