I get up and have the hostel breakfast of pancakes. I grab a map and leave the hostel. The difference in temperature is remarkable. Sapa, there is never a bead of sweat that leaves your forehead in most situations. Here, I'm back to heat and humidity. I start my exploration of the city, easily getting lost with the terrible hostel map. As I turn from the narrrow streets, the volume of cars is noticeable. Dodging a Hmong sister selling beads was about my limit not so long ago. I find some backpackers in a similar position but with a better map. We navigate together and eventually find the old prison which is quite fascinating. Stinks of bulls*** though. On one hand, it describes how the Vietmanese were mistreated by the French colonial officiers. On the other hand, it describes how the GI's in the Vietnam war were treated amazingly, showing photos of them playing basketball, chess, getting mail from home, smiling, medicine when required, all fun and games. It's a pity that the Vietmanese were not a little more honest with their approach to the prison.

I walk to the lake and see the old Pagoda in the centre. The heat is a massive contrast to Sapa and I sit and cool off with an apple juice. I carry on with my tour, walking through the narrow streets, dodging traffic by simply walking into the road and allowing them to swerve round me. I find the old Catholic Gothic church (St Joeseph's Cathedral) which is closed, but looks quite impressive amidst the Hanoi backdrop.

I go to the water puppet show, but there is not a showing for several hours, so head back to the hostel. I miss my friends and am need of some company to take my mind of Sapa. Homesick for a place I stayed at for a week. I speak with some people there, meeting one of the staff from Dundee. Heading to the rooftop bar, I join a group, recognising a girl from Sapa and play scabby queen. I play beer bong on 2 oildrums, playing with 2 lads from newcastle. I meet some lads from Wales who have been on a 3 month world tour taking in everywhere from Australia to Las Vegas. We join a pub crawl, starting at the downtown backpackers and moving onto several more bars. Our guide disappears and we get a taxi to a nightclub and is apparently renowned for it. Luckily one the girls with us knows where the nightclub is that we would have ended up at. Taxis found we finish the night dancing away. A friendly crowd and I call it a night.