Heart of Hanoi

Another flight, another city. This time Hanoi, a crazy city bursting with energy and life. And scooters. Even more than Ho Chi Minh if that were possible. And in the centre a beautiful peaceful lake.




Scary as it was to cross the roads - just step out, don't make eye contact with the drivers and don't veer to avoid the scooters - it was my favourite urban landscape in Vietnam for the sheer life force of the place.






Our hotel was in the heart of the old district, in amongst the shopping area, where each street specialises in one thing e.g. coffee or shoes or party goods! But at Daughter's request we set out for the fabric market, an incredible huge warehouse-like place with stalls piled high with barely room between for one person to pass at a time.

We did manage to get safely to the Women's Museum - lesson learned: don't mess with a Vietnamese woman - and the old prison - lesson learned: don't mess with a French guillotineer - and we ate some seriously good food.

  

Everything you need for a party!

It may be graffiti but it was accurate!

Yes, those are mattresses.

 

Don't mess with a Vietnamese woman!

On the first floor of the fabric market.

Not as easy as it may appear! And my baskets were empty.