Hanoi the capital of Vietnam with an estimated population of 3.5 million and from my experience I would estimate home to 7 million motorbikes. Hanoi makes Bangkok seem like a sleepy village, with roads full of moving motorbikes and pavements filled with parked motorbikes it is very chaotic and as a pedestrian slight stressful to get around. Personally I found the frantic pace and consistent noise of bike horns beeping mixed with the fumes from traffic too much for me.

However Hoan Kiem lake is a nice refuge of tranquility when the city gets too much and there are some lovely coffee shops on the roof of buildings near the lake offering beautiful views of the city and the lake. Hanoi also offered some culinary delights especially excellent Bo pho and there is an area known as beer corner where you can sample locally brewed beer for 40 cents a glass, although you will have to sit on a child size stool on the pavement or when busy in the road!!