Tuesday 17th - Bye Hoi AN - Hello Ha Noi

Tuesday 17th

Had our last brekky at Hoi An Pacific and packed for the flight to Ha Noi. We seemed to have accumulated lots of stuff, so a new suitcase was added to our stash. Strangely enough, both James and Steve seems to now have more stuff than Michele. Not sure how that happened, but she ended up with the small case. The hotel provided transport to Da Namg arirport and we arrived in plenty of time. It was a Jetstar flight so it meant a bus from the terminal to the plane, but we'd twigged to the emergency seats and had a bit of leg room for a change.

No customs on arrival (hooray!!!) as we were still in Vietnam. We had arranged an airport pick up (why didn't we start doing that earlier?) and arrived at the Spark Hotel in Ha Noi around 4. Like most other hotels in the area, it was very narrow, but comfortable and in a great location. We walked around Hoan Kiem Lake, stopping on the way for a decent feed in a european atmosphere. The food was good and Michele clocked up another Long Island Tea. We had a look at a temple in the middle of the lake and went past the water puppet theatre, but had just missed a show.

The old quarter in Ha Noi is almost as crazy as Saigon. Narrow streets, wonderful food stalls and the normal array of markets. Many people in Ha Noi including visitors eat on the street, sitting on tiny stools on the footpath and eating whatever delicacy is on offer. We had a short nap and the ate at an upstairs restaurant (can't remember the name) via a very dodgy staircase and sitting next to a spaghetti of powerlines (see pics) The meal was great and we knew we had a huge day of travelling (set the alarm for 5.45 for a 6.30 pick up), so we actually made it to bed at a decent hour

Bye Hoi An Pacific

A new set of slippers for James to try

By Lake Hoan Kiem

A bit of local gardening

Late lunch by the lake

With another Mango juice for James

Street food - we gave this particular one a miss

On the Jetstar bus

Collapsed at the Spark Hotel

..except for Michele who was relaxed

James by the lake

They're real yellow flowers in the background

Michele and James by the lake

The same name as our favourite restaurant in Melbourne

The view from dinner

The stairs to get to dinner