This morning, after checking out of our spacious hotel room we grabbed an uber equivalent to Changi Airport using the first of many Grab rides. Unlike Uber, Grab still encourages the taxis to use their meter. Great in cities where Taxis like to haggle rather than use the meter (looking at you Bangkok) and often refuse to take you anywhere, especially in tourist areas.
A quick and efficient check-in allowed us to head to Terminal 1 for the Jewel feature. A 40m tall indoor waterfall built to much fanfare in April 2019. This water feature is the centrepiece to a food court and shopping mall. I wouldn't be surprised if locals visited even when not travelling, as its entirely accessible without setting foot in the main airport.
The 3+ hour flight with budget airline Scoot wasn't bad. A loud plane with all the hallmarks of a budget airline but with a pleasant amount of space and hassle free experience.
We arrived in Hanoi to weather reports for the next 2 weeks of non-stop thunderstorms. Jumped in the taxi, checked into the Bonne Nuit Hotel and headed out for an explore prior to our 6pm G Adventures meeting.
We checked out the train line near to the hotel which appeared to be popular with tourists. It even has a name on Google maps. Cafes and pushy vendors line the side of the train. We grabbed some photos, had a watermelon juice, some grilled squid and set off towards the Ho Chi Min Mausoleum.
On the way, we stopped at Lenin's statue, but also passed Polish and Ukrainian embassies and the home of the Vietnamese Olympic offices.
The biggest shock for me was crossing the road. The streets are filled to the brim with buses, taxis, cars and many more mopeds. There are no specific crossing areas and junctions are rarely traffic light controlled. We soon realised that walking slowly across any road, at a steady pace and trying not to stop was the best way. Eyes open optional. Our guide later told us to visualise ourselves as a rock in a river and to let the flowing traffic river move around you. After a few goes it made sense and became much easier. This skill was to be transferable to most of our destinations on your east Asian trip.
Our last stop of our walk was the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. I tried to get a photo of some of the ceremonial guards but none would oblige. The mausoleum itself is protected by a yellow line on the ground and it was quietly amusing seeing the guards whistle and mime at repeat offenders to return to the safe zone. I could watch that all day long.
At 6pm we met our G Adventures guide Sey Bamboo and the other members of the tour, making us a 15 strong troupe. We were encouraged to call him Bamboo, as a slight mispronunciation of his first name Sey could result in embarrassment and offence. Genital parts were mentioned. Representatives from Germany, New Zealand, Wales and Ireland joined John and I. The rest were all from London.
After our meeting, two thirds of our group headed out for dinner together at local restaurant Hungry Hanoi where I had buffalo, for the first time! Onions with a side of buffalo.
Tomorrow we head to Ha Long Bay...
