Day 57 (Friday 1st Feb 08)

Got up very early and went and checked out and had some breakfast at 7:30am. With our bags on our bags walked along very quickly to where the airport bus picks up from. Luckily arrived just in time and cooled down in the air con! Arrived at the airport at about 9am and went to see when we could get a flight to Hanoi. Luckily Air Asia had a flight leaving at 10:20am so they let us quickly check-in and get through immigration to get it. As we got off the plane in Hanoi it was a huge shock to the system - freezing!! Got through immigration and picked up our bags. Straight away dug our fleeces and boots out of our bags to try and warm up a bit. Then went and waited outside for the public bus. Had to wait ages in the freezing cold, when it finally arrived everyone rushed on and we tried to get on as well but they weren't taking anyone with luggage. Waited for the next one to come to see if we could get on that but again the same thing - really annoying! In the end went back to the terminal and got on a minibus which was only $2 each so not that bad. Got dropped off at a cheap hotel for $12 a night, had a look and decided it would do for a couple of nights. After checking in went for a wander to see what was around, still freezing even though have put our thermals by now! Got scammed into paying about 2quid for some bananas and a bit of pineapple when one of the woman carrying around the baskets they wear on their shoulders got us to take pictures of us holding it. Must have been obvious we had just arrived! Not falling for that one again! Found somewhere cheap to eat, then back to the hotel to try and warm up! No chance though.

Day 58 (Saturday 2nd Feb 08)

Got up and went out to have a wander around. Grabbed some lunch and then got a taxi as planning to go Halong Bay tomorrow (Lonely Planet saying you need to go the day before to get tickets and that you can only get there by taxi). After an expensive taxi ride to the bus station found that noone wanted to speak to us about tomorrow only wanted to sell us a ticket for today so that was a waste of time! Headed back towards the old city and once we were in the area where the cyclos were allowed got out of the taxi and bargained for a cyclo. Saw cock-fighting going on in the park, then 2 dogs on the back of someone's motorbike ready to butcher, then 2 tiny cages full of kittens all packed in on top of each other. Em was really not happy. Our cyclo took us to the Hanoi Hilton (Prison Museum) and Women's Museum. Very interesting to have a look around both. Got taken back to our hotel and then went off to have a look at Hang Bac Road to find some internet with Skype. Walked back to the area around our hotel and found somewhere cheap for something to eat. Back to the cold hotel for another cold night after a cold day!