Spent last afternoon in Hanoi yesterday wandering around the old quarter, finally starting to get to know our way around and now we're leaving. Really loved it here despite the noise, dirt, dust and chaos. The old quarter is amazing, everything happens on the pavement outside people's houses. The govt allow people to have home shops so they use the downstairs of their house as a shop and live upstairs but most eat out on the pavement on small plastic tables and chairs or just on a rug. Every couple of steps someone has pots and pans on the go, either for themselves or selling bowls of Pho. Most streets sell one thing so there is street of shoes, street of bags, street of coffee etc We stayed just down from street of very odd medicines kept on glass jars and street of door k*** (done other iron mongerish things were on sale but it was mostly just door k*** !)
Kids wanted to get pizza for lunch as we've had nothing but seafood, rice and noodles for over a week. Went to a wee place close to hotel and I ordered stir fry while Tess had a burger and Lewie went for pizza. He couldn't stop talking about how much he was looking forward to it but just after ordering there was a power cut and they couldn't make it for him. Poor boy! Had to have pasta instead.
Tess and I decided to have a manicure at little local hairdressers as we were feeling truly grotty after Sapa. Got full manicures, hand massage for both of us and nails painted then little flower patterns drawn on top for the grand total of £3.12! (for both, not each!!)
headed off for the train at 7 after saying our goodbyes to the brilliant staff at Mike's Hotel. They really were fantastic. Decided to pay an extra $20 for first class on this train as it was a 15 hour journey, totally worth it. Had a bed each, air con, very clean cabin, water, facewipes etc We all fell asleep almost straight away and didn't wake up until 9am so only had 2 hours til we reached Danag where a driver picked us up and drove us to Hoi An, about an hour away.
Arrived at Nhi Nhi hotel and it is gorgeous. Is built in a square with a swimming pool in the middle and no roof so the sun shines down on it all day. The room is lovely and big with tv and air con. Breakfast is served next to pool. Went for a walk and it is so quiet and peaceful compared to Hanoi. No cars allowed in the town and far less scooters. Can actually walk two steps without a scooter coming in any direction. The town is built along the sides of the river and wasn't really touches during the war so is a mix of very old French and Chinese buildings which all have lanterns hanging outside. At night the lanterns all come on and light up the town, it really is lovely. Again all the people are fantastic, always stopping to chat..especially people with children, they are all really chilled out and happy. Went to an Italian restaurant for dinner so Lewie could finally get his pizza. Came back to hotel early as despite our good sleep on the train we're pretty tired so going to chill out in our room tonight. Off to the spa tomorrow to have our Sapa aches and pains massages away. Planning a days cookery class on Wednesday which includes sailing to Market to buy ingredients then off to small nearby island on Friday for a days snorkelling. Apart from that we're just looking forward to wandering around Hoi An.