Hanoi

After our experiences on the buses and train we decided to fly from Hue to Hanoi. The journey went smoothly and was completely uneventful. The Vietnam Air flight was on time, the plane was clean, the service excellent and the fares cheap ($50).
We selected the hotel in Hanoi to be in the Old Quarter and that is exactly where it was! The streets were narrow and crammmed with street traders, bikes, cyclos, motorbikes and the odd taxi like ours trying to get to hotels. The hotel itself was in a great location although we could have done without the disco next door. Having settled in we went out to explore the tiny streets and many tourist shops. It was shoppers' heaven and we probably should have bought more but we were trying to keep the luggage weight down so just enjoyed window shopping. The Lonely Planet again came up trumps with a restaurant. We went to "Five" both nights for 5 star meals for about $30 each night.
Our first task in Hanoi was to change our flights home having decided not to go to Sapa. The chance of a perhaps unpleasant sleeper train up and back at the end of a great holiday just did not appeal to either of us. Having made the decision we then booked our trip to Halong Bay. There are so many cruises to choose from and we would be doing this once in our lifetime so it was important to get it right - we threw money at it and picked the best we could afford.
Hanoi was so different to Saigon, equally busy but whereas in Saigon the motorcycles went round us as we crossed roads in Hanoi we had to go round the bikes. We saw many tourists with bandaged arms and legs having been burnt by the motorcycle exhausts in near misses. In the narrow streets of the Old Quarter I (Jane) found I did not enjoy walking around as much as I had in other towns and cities as I had to focus 100% on not getting injured.