Hanoi--Toto, we're not in Hong Kong anymore!!

Now I realize how smart it was to stop in Hong Kong on my way to Vietnam. Hong Kong was meant to ease me out of familiarity. The different time, different food, different language... My plane landed 2 hours ago and my adventure has begun. Nothing is familiar.

Off to a good start. I met another solo traveler on the plane. we shared a ride into the Old Quarter, dodging through bikes and motorcycles sharing the narrow road through the fields. But once he was dropped off first, the taxi driver began to play with my sensibility. Trying to take advantage of me, and now knowing that I had LOTS of cash in my pocket, he changed the price from 4,000 dong to 14,000 to 40,000. I settled at paying 20k dong which may be more than I should have, but just enough to keep him from chasing after that wad on dong in my pocket.

Let me say at this point that 16k dong = $1 USD. So we're talking pennies, but still...

I realize that prices are flexible, so have them write it down before it changes. Second case in point, the hotel. I looked on the internet for a reservation to a recommended guesthouse, listing a single room at the Stars Hotel for $13USD /night. Arriving without a confirmed reservation due to the lateness of my request, the only room available was the Deluxe (basically the standard room with a balcony hovering above the street) for $23. It's a lovely room with 2 twin beds put together, ornately carved wood furniture, a TV, fridge, tub, toilet, B-fast included. Deluxe. (Super Deluxe, some might say.) The standard room is $15/nights, quoted by the reception desk (not $13 internet price). Less than 5 min. after handing over my passport to be held at the front desk during my stay, the reception desk knocked on the door asking for $25/night instead. lesson learned, I had her write it all down.

Now those of you who've been to Hanoi must be laughing at me right now. I'm laughing at myself just a little right now. But am convinced that the additional 30k dong for the room was instigated by the taxi driver who kept insisting I could pay more.

The weather here is cool, maing long sleeves and even a jacket at night necessary. Tomorrow I'm off to book my trips to Halong Bay and Sapa and am excited to explore a bit of the city in the daylight. So far I haven't seen 1 caucasian face on the streets from my balcony or heard 1 word of native English anywhere since I dropped off my taxi buddy. Not a single sign is in English. No one is traveling alone. I must rest tonight, as tomorrow is for tackling the unknown.