Day 1 of our tour we start again in Ha Noi with our cyclo trip around the Old Quarter. Fortunately or unfortunately I was as the front of the 14 'bikes' so I really had the full on view of the oncoming traffic as we crossed roads with and without lights and wove in and out of bikes, cyclos, motorbikes, scooters and of course not to mention cars! There is a steady flow I'm pleased and was relieved to feel, so I didn't remain terrified for too long.
There was time to watch and listen albeit beep beeping sounds, mainly to what was really going on. Every street has a 'trade' so that everything is in the same street eg shoe street, which made the ride all the more interesting.
We ended up at the Opera Theatre and headed off to the Ho Chi Minh Quarter to see his Mausoleum but he wasn't there! He was in Russia being touched up to be put on display again. Apparently it can take up to one hour to queue up to see him. We then went to see where he had lived which was a lovely and peaceful environment. I have some photos that I will post so that you can see it. Of course everything is so green here it would make gardening a nightmare!! Will continue, it was a big day doing Ha Noi in 8 hours or so......