We rendezvoused with the travel agent who has made our bookings in Vietnam and (some in) Lao to pay him and arrange for day trip tomorrow to Tam Coc which is the land version of Halong Bay. Promenades south to what is known as the French quarter, location of the Hanoi Opera, Metropole hotel etc. Outside the Metropole is "the" place for local brides to have their pictures taken on the big day and it's a laugh to watch them striking their adoring poses. In between ...

Definitely due a sleep-in today. Staying at a nice little hotel in the old quarter near the Hoan Kiem lake with a restaurant on the top floor with a view to the lake on one side and to the river on the other. After a leisurely breakfast we wandered around the old quarter and practiced our road crossing skills. Watching and joining in the chaos of Hanoi traffic is great fun. No one ever stops and bike riders never put a foot down. Traffic lights appear to be a sug...

Got up late. Scott Market closed on Mondays so no chance for any last minute shopping. Quick turn around the city's Muslim quarter before the heat drove us back to the sanctuary of the hotel. Spent the day in the opulent air conditioned lobby with free wifi before our transfer to the airport at 4 pm. The plane was late arriving at Yangon so we didn't take off until 8 pm, an hour late. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi was interesting! It is the only airport wh...