We arrived in Hanoi after a rather pleasant bus journey. Because there was a toilet on board we made very few stops so instead of arriving between 8-10 we arrived at 5:30am. It was still pitch black. Normally there is a barrage of tuk tuk drivers waiting to throw random figures at you to take you to your guesthouse..... There were taxis. So few of them that we had no-one to take us? Some motorbike taxis pulled up but we're a bit scared to get on them with our bags. After the bikes took other people there was just me, Lee and another couple so we decided to follow the map on the iPhone and walk. The iPhone is amazing! Even though there's no Internet it still finds our location and guides us (we knew where we wanted to go because Lee had looked it up before we'd set off). It was a bit of a walk so, after me moaning, Lee tried to flag a taxi. Not one stopped. This has never happened?! The taxi's in Vietnam, so far, have always pulled over and asked if you wanted 'taxi' even when your just strolling along... We walked the whole way (it wasn't too bad after I'd took my backpack off my back and wheeled it along).
We walked up the main street which had all the main high street and some designer shops (all closed). We walked past the lake to the north end into the old quarter where the backpacker area is. We'd booked into backpackers Hanoi, before we'd left, in a dorm room - our 1st one of the travels!!!! It was really nice?! In the room was 6 bunk beds, 2 double and 4 single. We were in the double. There was a plug socket next to each bed (so we could charge our phones), a storage cupboard under the bed with a lock (that fitted both our backpacks in), a shared bathroom (looked like the gym showers - individual shower cubicles), clean bedding, clean toilets, a bar, cafe and wifi/computer area downstairs then upstairs they had a terrace for smokers, a tv area with bean bags, a pool table, sofas and again a wifi/computer area.
Once we'd put our things in the room we went off exploring the capital of Vietnam. Everywhere was shut! Even though new years eve and day had been and gone (2 days ago) we realized it goes on a lot longer. We never thought almost EVERYTHING would stop working. We found some tour operators open so we asked around to price Hanoi to Vientiane. Flipping heck the price difference is rude! The 1st said $72 then the next $32 then $45 finally $27pp. There were a couple of bars and restaurants open too but very few shops so we gave up walking around after we'd boked the bus and came back to the hostel. We booked our trip to Halong Bay for in the morning with tge hostel then ordered food and drink and went to the lounge upstairs to watch a film (get him to the Greek) - they brought the food and drink up to us!