Hanoi day two

Riding a scooter in Hanoi is and should be its own national sport. Jostling for position amongst the cabs and busses that fill the streets takes balance percision and skills beyond the mere mortal skills most have. I personally wouldn’t have tried if I hadn’t been born on two wheels. I grew up in the BMX age and this looks fun.

We got up and went to a western breakfast which consisted of eggs, pancakes, dumplings, fruit. Amazing super ripe beautifully cut and manicured fruit. Oohhhh sooo good. Topped off with some of the best coffee I’ve ever had and we were off and running into the day with full bellies and happy hearts.

The walk back to our hotel consisted of a couple stops in the old French quarter to look at some silk blankets we have to get some and some cheap sunglasses. We didn’t purchase anything and if you want to buy something this tactic alone will save you half on just about anything you want. Just say kong or no to be more precise. See I finally know one word. Act like you truly don’t want what they are sellin and walk away, this is usually followed with a drop in price by half. If you like haggling this is the place for you. Everything is negotiable.

I rent one scooter for the two of us and just go for it. They ask if I can ride one and I just say yes. It’s been a while and I can’t even remember how to start one. I figure it out and dawn jumps on the back. We head out and see Ho Chi Minh’s Masoleum and the presidential palace. If you end up in Hanoi check this out its stunning.

Break neck speeds and between flying cars is my jam. We travel half way around the Ho Tay lake (John Kerry crash landed his shot down plane here) before my adrenaline runs thin and we stop for bearings and to catch my breath. We decide to head back, I get a zen feeling I’m in the zone on the scooter zipping through hanoi past the endless shops and yummy food vendors that spill out into the streets and alleyways. It’s blissful and adrenaline causing if your not used to it, but this is my kinda riding.

I still can’t believe we are in Vietnam, it’s immersive beyond belief, It’s been two days and I’m in love. We take tomorrow and relax and leave towards HUE Thursday night on an overnight sleeper train.

Bia Hoi meaning fresh beer is on the menu for lunch and it’s great. Family style seating on low plastic chairs around small communal tables. You order dishes of food and share them while they give you fresh beer as fast as you drain your glass. We arrive at one for lunch and have beef fried noodles and sautéed spinach the best I’ve had.

We walk through the botanical garden and see giant peacocks and monkeys in cages. They don’t look excited to see us but we were excited to see them. Everywhere people try and sell you stuff some are polite. Some are in it for the hard sell. We’re partly immune being from NYC and NOLA but you do want to help. It’s just part of being human. We plan to buy some items we need from these vendors. Life is good and it’s just say two.

I’m up in the middle of the night writing this I’m still partly on western time. Hanoi what a place, well back to sleep.

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