Christof and I are now in Hanoi, after arriving in Ho Chi Minh and sightseeing there we flew north. Vietnam is so interesting because the different parts of it seem to vary so much. Ho Chi Minh was so western in feel, wide streets with huge modern buildings, bright lights, all the usual designer brands represented and even French bakeries on many corners! We were both so surprised.
Then we arrived in Hanoi, which was much more as expected, although even more chaotic than anticipated. We are staying in the middle of the 'old town' which is bustling with tour operators and hotels, restaurants, and traditional shops, people and traffic squeezing through its tiny streets. By day the streets a filled with the sound of birdsong, which seems so out of place that the many caged birds which adorn every building don't fill me with the lightness of spirit which birdsong usually inspires; in the evening, there is nothing to alleviate the sound of the honking horns of the traffic. It is very picturesque.
From Hanoi we rented a motorcycle and travelled north to explore the hills. Logistically it would have been very hard to do by bicycle, difficulties finding hotels, information, maps etc and as vegetarians who can't speak the language outside of the cities we are reduced to biscuits and UHT milk and bread when we can find it. Everything seems to have some kind of animal in it. We also had limited time, and Christof was eager to drive a motorbike after seeing a Top Gear episode (seems to be Britain's biggest export - Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, bit worrying really). However we had an amazing time, and saw so much. It was exactly like we expected but better in every way. The drive was just amazing, mountains, forested hills, sheer craggy rock faces, valleys of lush rice paddies, beautiful old wooden buildings, perfectly wonderful. It definitely makes it into the top five along with Yosemite, the West coast in both the USA and NZ, and Glacier National Park.
Of course We are technically in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, so here are some genuine posters to entertain!
 |
| Hanoi really, but it gives you the idea. |
Then we arrived in Hanoi, which was much more as expected, although even more chaotic than anticipated. We are staying in the middle of the 'old town' which is bustling with tour operators and hotels, restaurants, and traditional shops, people and traffic squeezing through its tiny streets. By day the streets a filled with the sound of birdsong, which seems so out of place that the many caged birds which adorn every building don't fill me with the lightness of spirit which birdsong usually inspires; in the evening, there is nothing to alleviate the sound of the honking horns of the traffic. It is very picturesque.
From Hanoi we rented a motorcycle and travelled north to explore the hills. Logistically it would have been very hard to do by bicycle, difficulties finding hotels, information, maps etc and as vegetarians who can't speak the language outside of the cities we are reduced to biscuits and UHT milk and bread when we can find it. Everything seems to have some kind of animal in it. We also had limited time, and Christof was eager to drive a motorbike after seeing a Top Gear episode (seems to be Britain's biggest export - Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, bit worrying really). However we had an amazing time, and saw so much. It was exactly like we expected but better in every way. The drive was just amazing, mountains, forested hills, sheer craggy rock faces, valleys of lush rice paddies, beautiful old wooden buildings, perfectly wonderful. It definitely makes it into the top five along with Yosemite, the West coast in both the USA and NZ, and Glacier National Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment