First got to Hanoi on Sept 11th after flying from Delhi via Kuala Lumpur (met Mike at the airport in Kuala Lumpur for our onward flight). I was expecting the cars/streets to be on par with India, but it is all so much nicer here, and far more developed. Our hotel is on a quiet road in the Old Quarter of Hanoi (necessary as Mike had flown 3 days in a row with a total of 12hrs time difference). The rest of the Old Quarter is busy. It seems to get busier and busier from about 6pm-10pm when its hard to walk around the streets for traffic/people walking/people sat out eating/people trying to sell you things. Trying to cross the road is a skill, you have to literally just walk out in front of moving traffic, as no one will ever stop for you, and if you move at anything other than a steady pace it confuses the drivers!

On our first full day we took it pretty easy as I was still ill and Mike was extremely jet lagged. Eventually we set off to see Hanoi's sights. Over the next couple of days we saw the Temple of literature - lots of wise turtles, temples and a pretty lake. We also saw the Ho Chi Minh museum, which was interesting for reasons other than those intended. Only certain aspects of the museum are translated, the rest is simply picture/represented. The complex was huge and a lot of time and money has clearly gone in to making it a big attraction. We went on to the prison,which is where American prisoner's of war were kept, as well as Vietnamese female prisoners of war from the French before. Again, the prison told the story of the female prisoners - which was horrific - then briefly detailed the American prisoners' stories, showing them playing games and cooking at Christmas. In Hanoi we also saw the Ngoc Son Temple which is over the bridge of the Hoan Kiem lake which is in the center of the city and is really picturesque and nice to walk around. Around the lake there is so much activity - locals playing games, exercise classes, an open gym with weights - which is also pretty interesting, as well as lots of cafes and touristy shops surrounding it.

On our second night here we went to see a water puppet show which is apparently a must-do in Vietnam. Men and women stand in a pool of water behind a curtain and put in a puppet show in the water with different animals and characters and music. Mike fell asleep... I thought it was pretty interesting but a bit strange. The theater was nearly sold out and they do 5 shows a day so they must be doing something right.

The food here has been amazing. (I am so gad to not be eating any more curry!) We've had loads of different spring rolls, rice dishes and stir fries with chilli or cashew nuts or lemon grass. (Although Ive been on a lot of plain rice due to my stomach...) Mike has mastered using chop sticks, I'm getting there! Definitely better than the first night when we both had to give in and ask for a knife and fork!

Feels like we have been in Hanoi for aggges now, mainly because we have. Unfortunately because my stomach infection still hadn't cleared up (nearly 4 weeks now!) I went to see another Dr in Hanoi 3 days ago who has told me to stay here and rest until Saturday 21st - poor Mike has itchy feet. Finally starting to feel better - fingers crossed - but I will never ever joke about getting ill again! We've been here so long the hotel staff keep welcoming us home when we get back...