Good Morning, Vietnam! (Original, I know)

Hanoi is everthing we read about: its big, foggy, loud, crowded, but filled with friendly faces, cheap eats and cheap beer. The temperature is a nice change from Bangkok. I haven't seen a thermometer, but I'd guess the daytime high to be about 70 degrees.

After getting a nice room by the lake in the 'Old Quarter' we walked the area, dodged traffic, and found a place for dinner. Then we found the cheap beer, Bia Hoi. Here's the scoop; some small corner shop get a 'fresh' keg from the local brewery, sets up small stools, like a kindergardern class has, and sells glasses of beer for 2000 Dong (about 12 cents!). This started with the locals, but is now popular with the tourists. After a few games of pool at a more 'normal' bar, Em and I settled into a local Bia Hoi place, spent about $1 and went home happy. (Not too happy, mom)

We arranged a trip to Ha Long bay, what people say is the most grand place in all of Vietnam. We'll stay one night on a junk, then another night on one of the larger islands. Em and I negotiated the option for one additional night on the island if we want a day of kayaking. We'll leave in the morning.

We had a nice lunch of what we think was Pho Bo. 'Pho' is noodles and 'bo' is beef. This is the staple of northern Vietnam and very common from the Hanoi street vender. This place was very clean and busy:



Here is a nice shot of a typical Hanoi street: