Hanoi, Vietnam
On Sunday (21 January) I tried to get a handle on Hanoi. First I walked by St. Joseph Cathedral which is right near the hostel and took a gander inside. Then I walked around Hoan Kiem Lake, in the middle of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and about a 5 minute walk from my hostel. The lake really reminded me of Green Lake in Seattle. Then I just walked around the areas south of the lake for a couple of hours. I had a difficult time trying to find a cheap place to eat lunch. Unlike Thailand and Laos, there is a shortage of cheap restaurants in Hanoi. And I'm discovering that I don't really care for Vietnamese food all that much, especially not street food. That evening I went out to dinner with a bunch of people from the hostel (not impressed by the food)and then a few of us went to a bar for a few hours.
On Monday (22 January) morning I went to the train station to book my train ticket to Lao Cai, the closest city on the train line to Sapa, a popular city in the hills near the Vietnamese-Chinese border. For less than $12 I got a 'hard sleeper' on the night train leaving the following night. I had lunch at a nice but cheap restaurant with a couple people from the hostel. After lunch I went to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum which was interesting but depressing. Then that evening the hostel had a little BBQ which was fun, but wound down early. A bunch of people from the hostel were heading to Sapa that night. It was a pretty mellow day and I didn't do much 'sight seeing'.
On Tuesday (23 January) morning I took an exciting motorbike taxi ride through the crowded streets to the Burmese Embassy. I filled out the short application, provided the $20 fee (obtaining the $20 was a hassle though as no body wanted to change money from Dong to Dollar, only Dollar to Dong and the embassy wouldn't take Vietnamese Dong), and was told to come back in 3 days to pick up the visa. It was almost too easy. I think that is the cheapest visa I have ever gotten and I'm glad I don't have to give the horribly oppressive Burmese government any more money than that. Then I went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex and walked around the grounds. The Mausoleum itself was closed though so like with Lenin in Moscow, and Mao in Beijing, I missed seeing the embalmed body of a 'great' leader..... I did wind up in the Ho Chi Minh Museum by accident but didn't spend much time there as I wasn't in the mood. I ate lunch at the same place as the day before, then headed back to the hostel.
One thing I really don't like about Vietnam is that absolutely everyone tries to rip you off when they give you change. You must always count your change and 9 times out of 10 you have been given the incorrect change!
Crossing the streets in Hanoi is really a hair raising experience too. It really takes a leap of faith.
My train to Sapa leaves at 9:15 PM tonight and I'll be there for a few days before coming back to Hanoi. I may or may not have internet access there.
On Monday (22 January) morning I went to the train station to book my train ticket to Lao Cai, the closest city on the train line to Sapa, a popular city in the hills near the Vietnamese-Chinese border. For less than $12 I got a 'hard sleeper' on the night train leaving the following night. I had lunch at a nice but cheap restaurant with a couple people from the hostel. After lunch I went to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum which was interesting but depressing. Then that evening the hostel had a little BBQ which was fun, but wound down early. A bunch of people from the hostel were heading to Sapa that night. It was a pretty mellow day and I didn't do much 'sight seeing'.
On Tuesday (23 January) morning I took an exciting motorbike taxi ride through the crowded streets to the Burmese Embassy. I filled out the short application, provided the $20 fee (obtaining the $20 was a hassle though as no body wanted to change money from Dong to Dollar, only Dollar to Dong and the embassy wouldn't take Vietnamese Dong), and was told to come back in 3 days to pick up the visa. It was almost too easy. I think that is the cheapest visa I have ever gotten and I'm glad I don't have to give the horribly oppressive Burmese government any more money than that. Then I went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex and walked around the grounds. The Mausoleum itself was closed though so like with Lenin in Moscow, and Mao in Beijing, I missed seeing the embalmed body of a 'great' leader..... I did wind up in the Ho Chi Minh Museum by accident but didn't spend much time there as I wasn't in the mood. I ate lunch at the same place as the day before, then headed back to the hostel.
One thing I really don't like about Vietnam is that absolutely everyone tries to rip you off when they give you change. You must always count your change and 9 times out of 10 you have been given the incorrect change!
Crossing the streets in Hanoi is really a hair raising experience too. It really takes a leap of faith.
My train to Sapa leaves at 9:15 PM tonight and I'll be there for a few days before coming back to Hanoi. I may or may not have internet access there.
posted by Dustin at 12:26 AM
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