2014 North Vietnam Trip: D01

Vietnam Airline - no luxe but comfortable.
Airport & Way to Hotel: First impression, in between Vientiane and
Bangkok.... hmmm not quite the right way to put it.

Our first guide - A Soo, a very nice 3rd year university student from
HaiPhong.
A few doors away on our street was a restaurant whose lady owner won 2nd
place at the local MasterChef's show. Food was definitely yummy.
St. Joseph Cathedral was also nearby. Then we went to the night market. A
bit of a let-down 'cos it was just stalls after stalls selling the same
thing - mostly clothings.
At a cross road, we sat down (squat!!) for local dessert. Yum yum.

2014 North Vietnam Trip: D02

Morning session with Bi Feng.

- Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword). Le Loi King threw his sword
to the giant tortoise that asked for it to be returned to the Dragon King
here.
- Hanoi Ice Cream (not great... wonder why so many people there??)
- Hanoi Opera House (not opened?)
- Lunch at Quan An Ngon -> Thumbs Up Up Up.

Afternoon session with HanoiKids Theng n Heo.
- Museum of Ethnology -> very good. 54 ethnic groups in 1 country? That's
crazy. So it is right to have a museum to let people learn and understand
what are the lifestyles and culture there are. The water puppet show was
also interesting. Perhaps a little English translation would make it more
fun.
- Opposite the museum was a public park. Children had some snacks and played
there. We had coffee and chatted.

Evening
- We decided to explore on our own. Visited an Art Fair by the West Lake.
Met Sunny and decided to be led by her to a restaurant. Lwei got to ride
with her on her bike.

2014 North Vietnam Trip: D03

Our guide for the half day: Xiao Hui
- Museum of Fine Arts, Hanoi
- Temple of Literature
- Restaurant: He Thong Nha Hang Net Hue (nethue.com.vn)

Afternoon - back to Splendora to nap. TL was out planning for the 7day
driving tour.
Lily came to explain the route and details - new car, non-smoking driver,
safe, willing to stop at any spot (legally), flexible to make changes if
need be, option to extend a day @ 1million dong, etc.

Evening:
- the porridge stall at end of our street. Yummy!
- road side Nha Hang Dac Kim restaurant with 70,000 dong Grilled Pork with
Rice Noodle. Yummy!
- road side Pao. Yummy!
- road side dessert. Yummy!