We got into Hanoi airport after some more major travel back from Chiang Mai to Bangkok then Bangkok to Hanoi and once again we were met with long passport control queues and confusion over our visas. I'm seeing a trend starting! I had organized an airport pickup with the hotel and thank god I did!! When we walked out of the airport we were met by a mass of traffic and they were all honking their horns! The drive or should I say death race! To the hostel was an experience in its self. There was traffic coming at us from all angles and the scooters are ridiculous. They seem to beep their horns not in anger but to let you know that your in their way and they are coming through no matter what! And they seem to be able to drive anywhere, into oncoming traffic, through alleyways, on the footpath! That is of course if the footpath is not blocked off with yet more parked up scooters!
After a much needed lie down in the hotel we decided we would go and have a look round and get a feel for the place. We very quickly discovered just walking around is an art form because of the constant flow of scooters. Having battled our way down the road we came to a crossing on the main street, not that a crossing makes any difference! We had been told by several people to cross the road you just walk at a steady pace and the cars and scooters will move round you, easier said than dun! I've played chicken before but this was something else. Having said that they do move round you and as long as you don't make any sudden moves you will be alright. A few wing mirror clips on the arms but nothing major!
There isn't really a great lot to do in Hanoi apart from museums and temples so we went to the temple in the middle of the lake in the centre of Hanoi and saw the giant fresh water turtle which they have stuffed and preserved in there. It is said that the turtle helped a Vietnamese king fend off the Chinese nearly six centuries ago. After that we went and watched the water puppet show which is basically a Punch and Judy show but with an oriental twist and the puppet are being operated from a pool of water.
We are off to Halong Bay tomorrow to stay on a boat for a couple of days.