Finally arrived at Hanoi at 4.30am in the morning after 2 days in 6 different vehicles. Got off the bus station at 5.30am.

Originally we were planning to take a cab to Hanoi Backpackers Hostel but because the driver seemed to be a little sketchy, we got off at a bus station. After asking around, took public bus number 8 (3000 Dong~USD$0.15) towards Hoan Kiem lake and managed to find our way to the hostel (USD$5).

Finally settled down in Hanoi after a long journey from Luang Prabang, Laos. Hanoi is the capital and the second largest city in Vietnam with a population of around 6 million people. The city has been the capital of Vietnam most of the time in history and the city is celebrating its 1000 year anniversary this year.

Since it’s the center of the communist government, I saw more men in military uniform than in Ho Chi Minh city. Visited Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex.

Ho Chi Minh body was well preserved here rest peacefully in the mausoleum.

Walked around the old quarter. The old quarter has some windy street with colonial and pre colonial buildings. Roads in Hanoi like Ho Chi Minh is not pedestrian friendly with motorbikes and food stalls all over the walk way.

Had a local Vietnamese dish (55,000 Dong~USD$3)

which was too much for 1 person.

Lake Hoan Kiem

A cathedral

Spent the afternoon getting my sense of directions and shop for tours to Halong Bay. There are many copy cat shops here and many shops use the same name. Sinh Cafe is the most popular name used for a tour agency with maybe a hundred shops using the name. It’ll be hard to find the original Sinh Cafe.

Night view of Lake Hoan Kim