I was up early to get a free transfer from my hostel to the airport, Lisa also came with me as we dropped her off at the hospital on the way. Last night we were talking about whether or not we should be taking anti-malaria tablets, I said I was and that I had been told to by my doctor, but Lisa wasn't. I think that I might have scared her as I told her the first signs of malaria were similar to getting a fever and as she wasn’t well and thought that she had a temperature, she was paranoid that she might now have malaria so wanted a blood test done to check. Sorry Lisa, I hope you are OK?

She also wanted a prescription for some antibiotics but I told her on the way to the hospital that she didn’t need a prescription here, she could just go to the chemist and ask for some and pay for them as other people I knew had got some as they had caught pink eye from either tubing or more possibly playing mud volleyball.

I got by bags checked in at the airport although they weighed 24kg, I really should post some of my stuff that I don’t need back home as next time I may not be so lucky with the excess baggage costs.

I arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam after a 50 minute flight which was amazing considering my other option of a 37 hour bus journey. Definitely worth the extra £60.

From the airport I was picked up by my pre arranged taxi from the hostel and although I booked it only 4 hours ago, it all went pretty smoothly. Arriving at The Drift Backpackers in Hanoi I was really looking forward to my private room that I had booked as I had spent too many days roughing it in tree houses and dorms, only to find that they didn’t actually have any private rooms and this was a mistake on Hostelbookers.com

As compensation for the mix up they gave me a free night as a good will gesture, although I would have to put up with a dorm room. At least this one only had 6 beds, air conditioning, and an ensuite with 2 showers and a toilet.

In the evening I went out for a walk around Hanoi and also to find somewhere for something to eat and a couple of drinks. On my way to the old quarter I was stopped by an American lady who was looking for the water puppet theatre. I said that I had only been here a few hours but I knew it was nearby at the north corner of the lake. She said she had looked over there and couldn’t find it so I walked with her to go and have a look as it was the way I was going anyway. Amazing, how could she miss it? Just around the corner where I thought it would be was this huge building with "Famous Water Puppet Theatre" in big neon lights on the front. She was pleased I could help her find it and a little embarrassed for net spotting it too.

Walking round the old quarter I found a place called Le Pub that was really busy and had the football on. So I popped in and found a seat near to a fan as I was sweating loads with the heat, ordered a beer and some chicken fried rice.

While sitting on my own I was first joined by a Dutch guy of around 50 that had been living in Vietnam for nearly 20 years and then we were joined by an American Vietnamese woman who was now living in America but over here working for Macy’s. No Christina, I didn’t ask her if she had any bags on her!!!

The good, sorry worst thing about Hanoi was that when it rains, it really rains and unluckily for me it poured down for a good 3 hours and I was stuck in the pub until closing time at 12am. By this time it had stopped raining and while walking back to the hostel I was asked by a taxi driver if I wanted a lift back, I showed him my address and then told me 100,000 dong (£3.50) and I said “No Way! I would rather walk”, he asked me how much, 20,000 I said and then we finally agreed on 25,000 (88p). I was quite happy walking but for that price I couldn’t say no.