Ok so after the quietness and stillness of Ninh Binh it was time to head back to Hanoi. I intended to travel by train but was told that all tickets had sold out so guess what it was one of those lovely bus journeys where you see how many people you can cram onto a small space being your seat.

Well I appear to be wrong about the above as buses travel to Hanoi every 15 minutes so therefore no need to be a sardine. This bus journey was just as interesting though, kids being travel sick everywhere, smelt lovely not, the driver decided to hit every pot hole that he could so I am not surprised that everyone below 10 vomitted to be honest with you. To top it all we had 2 very near misses with tha back of some mopeds and the woman that had the largest toddler in the world was flung that far forward that both she and her son pretty much landed on the gear stick. She managed to laugh and smile it of but he just vomitted again!!!!

Arrived in Hanoi all in one piece though after that experience. Found a little hostel in the centre of the old quarter which is where it appears to be happening. Plenty of shopping, bars and just general stuff all around here.

Took myself of on a walking tour and visited rather a lot of sights in 3.5km. the lonely planet is a real bible for any traveller as why pay for a tour when you can do it yourself, not that I am tight with money or anything but would rather spend it on myself.

So managed to see Ngoc Son Temple on the lake, various local markets with very fresh meat......live chickens being well made dead, plucked and sold. Chicken is my fav meat as well. Saw the herb merchants, rice wine makers, blacksmiths, more temples, more shops being silk ones, and St Josephs cathedral. Quite a nice city even though its full of hustle and bustle, typical of that of any Asian city in all honesty.