Last day in Hanoi – Day 4

We walked past the lady selling egg sandwiches on the corner just about everyday. Today we stopped and now I know where to get the best egg sandwich / banh mi anywhere. The last day anywhere is a mixture of excitement to see more and sadness that we are leaving.

We ate lunch at another place passed daily on our way somewhere less impressive. It takes spending a couple days in a place to see what’s right under your nose. Amazing pho, and some other beef noodle bowl of goodness was ours for the taking. We walked to the park ate mangos, watched children play, and brides take photos. We chatted with a man on the sidewalk about where we were from and where he lived before hanoi. People are social here.

The preparations for the tet are in full force. Every park is being planted with bright flowers. The public spaces are being lit festively. Signs are going up structures built and people seem generally excited.

Hanoi you captured our imagination, our heart, and our smiles. The stream of sound I’ll miss the hum of scooters beeping and zipping through the night. The street food, small shops, the cafe life is a life I want now. The social experience of a mobile culture not hindered by traffic laws and seemingly not hindered by the laws of physics is something to behold. We will miss you.

We leave on a train tonight to Dong Hoi overnight in a sleeper car shared with another two people. From there to phong nha for some hiking cave tour’s and to unwind on the way to HUE.

HUE is one of my bucket list items. I won’t be taking any photos of the caves since its a we’re going to get wet and swim in our clothes kinda tour.
So depending on my mood I may or may not post anything for a couple days.

Read the other entries from our Vietnam trip below
Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 4 1/2 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8 – Day 8 1/2 – Day 9 – Day 10 – Day 11 – Day 12 – Day 13 – Day 14 – Day 15 – Day 16 – Day 17 – Day 18 – Day 19 – Day 20 – Day 21