Well today was first sightseeing day in Hanoi and oh my god it is crazy busy!!! Apparently a population of 6million people and 4 million motorbikes! Crossing the road is should be an adventure sport!!

Ventured out this morning and first stop was the Hoa Lo Prison. Was originally built when the French had control of Vietnam and then to hold American prisoners of war during the "American war" as it is known here in Vietnam. Hoa Lo was where John McCain (one that lost to Obama) was held in and it has his army uniform hanging in display! The stories told by the multitude of pictures on the wall vary remarkably to the conditions the americans described of torture (McCain apparently cannot raise his arm due to it) but here it shows the prisoners making christmas dinner and decorating!!

After wandering around Hoa Lo prison headed to the Old Quarter and wandered all the way around the Hoan Kiem lake before finding an amazing ice cream shop!! Pictures are form all around the lake and was sooo beautiful, hard to believe that screeching past the lake were lane after lane if crazy traffic!! Was getting lost shock horror haha so finally relented and got myself a Lonley Planet guide book and city map! It didnt help any I still got tuk tuk back to hostel hahaha.

Wandered the old quarter rest if day and into the night before meeting some of the people I had been on bus with in a bar and then I headed back to the Drift where have spent rest of night having dinner with other room mates!! Is great hearing other peoples travel stories and sharing my own!

Was planning Halong Bay trip on Wednesday but a typhoon is due to hit the bay either tonight or tomorrow morning so all tours have been cancelled so think will be spending a little bit longer in Hanoi until I get to go!! But will keep you's all updated!

Love

xxxxx