Hanoi Day 1

Morning in Hanoi found Westlakes covered in misty fog and a pale grey sky.   Only the humidity and the early morning fisherman gave away this was Vietnam.

We met our guide and caught a taxi downtown to Hoan Kiem Lake.  After an exploration of the Ngoc Son Temple and a quick lesson about Cu Rua, the 600 year old mythical (and real) turtle of the magic sword, we headed into the embrace of the Old Quarter.  Gradually, we got our street smarts and started taking in the organised chaos that is this enchanting network of street, merchants and constant movement.  The motorbikes proved to be of endless fascination throughout the day with a contest soon emerging to see who could spot the craziest bike.  Hands down winner was a two-person dare devil bike with the pillion passenger sitting (pretty well obscured) inside a 15-ft vertical column of rolled plastic film.

Our guide then struck out and took us to the government administrative district (read lots of French colonial era buildings) to view the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum.  Fortunately, it was closed for the day - Ho needs constant rehab - and so we did the tourist thing and took lots of pictures from the outside.

Then on the 17th century One Pillar Pagoda and a visit to an Disabled Artists Workshop (meaning Agent Orange victims) where we bought an embroidery wall hanging.

Lunch soon followed at the French inspired building of 'Four Seasons' for a fab meal of soft shell grab, Chicken and lime leaves and roast duck.

We then walked to the Westlake causeway and visited the Buddhist inspired Tran Quoc Pagoda before heading back to the ever pulsating Old Quarter for shoe and clothes shopping.  Tiredness was starting to take over so we headed back to our hotel around 4pm, went for a swim and checked in for dinner.  Bed beckoned by 8pm as Harper was falling asleep at the table so we all went out like a light exhausted from our first, fabulous day in Vietnam.