Brilliant day in Hanoi yesterday. Hanoi kids are a great volentary art organisation who have students wanting to practice their English by taking tours through the city. We chose for them to take us to Hoa Lo prison and the temple of literature. Both were really interesting and the girls were gorgeous. Amazing English and really knowledgeable about the history etc. following that they took is to an amazing cong caphe for coffee and a divine take on iced chocolate and lemon for the kids. Kim had recommended her fav bun Cha restaurant so off we trotted to find it. There's no way e would have found it ourselves. It was down a narrow alley with men lined down one side on little stools scoffing. Bun Cha, the only thing they made. No menu. Ur what you got was a bowl of marinated then chargrilled pork belly in some broth with pork meatballs and a huge plate of fresh salad leaves and vermicelli that you dunked into the broth and ate. Absolutely delicious!!!
Back to hotel oasis for a swim before tackling shoe street. Literally a street selling all kinds of shoes as far as the eye could see. A promenade with the locals around hoam Kiem lake- saw lots of bats but no rats, then out for dinner. On our post dinner wAlk who should we bump into but Pete, Jude and Jess Lange. The late closing hours at the pool have been a great way to chill out and cool off before bed.