Day 3 – Ha Noi
We woke up early in the morning and booked a cab to the domest
ic airport. Similarly, the traffic in the morning was hectic – massive bikes and thunderous honking. Fortunately we were inside a cab. And indeed you must take heavy traffic into consideration while planning your travel in Vietnam. Inside the airport, after we checked in, we were waiting for the bus to transport us to Jetstar. We asked the airport staff at the holding area whether if we could take pictures. She obliged. We were surprised and delighted as this is not allowed in Singapore. So we took lots of pictures during boarding and alighting at every Vietnam airport. After we boarded, again I asked an air stewardess if I could take picture of her. She replied that it’s ok to take picture but not on her. Well, I had been naughty and discreetly took pictures of her…. heehee!
When we disembarked at Ha Noi airport, the temperature was totally different from Ho Chi Minh. It was cold with temperature of around 24 degree but still bearable to us. We were still able to walk around in our T-shirt without coat/jacket. I went to ANZ Bank counter in the airport to change for more Dongs. The rate wasn’t that fantastic as compared to HCM and they charged me 3% commission in US$!!! Crap! Ended up I got about 980,000 Dong for S$100; slightly lesser then what I got at HCM airport. Then we approached the airport staff to get us a meter taxi. But after we boarded, damn the meter wasn’t running. Bob asked the taxi driver to turn on the meter but the driver uttered some craps that we don’t understand. Or should I say we actually understand – he intends to crop us like carrot cake. And indeed, he charged me 350,000 Dong when it should be 250,000 Dong (Bob checked with the tourist information centre subsequently). Bob requested for receipt but on the receipt, the driver dare not write down 350,000 Dong. But I decided to rest the matter.
Our hotel (Hanoi Lucky Hotel, No.47, Ngo Huyen Hoan Kiem) is located along a narrow street, so narrow that our taxi couldn’t go in. The hotel was quite cosy and we were allotted the highest floor – level four! There is no lift so we need to climb the stairs. After we unpacked and sent in our laundry, we decided to roam around the nearby area. Along the street of Ha Noi, there are numerous hawkers beside the road. Locals just sit around on small stools to have their meal. I bet no Singaporean dare to try the food due to (presumbly) undesirable hygiene. But surprisingly, the “ang mohs” dare to eat along the roadside. The traffic of Ha Noi is similar to that of HCM except that the road is narrower. IMHO, it’s just as bad. But there again, people drive slowly, honk frequently, and will give way. There is no vulgarity or road-bully.
We visited a big old church before we reach “Hoan Kiem” lake (还剑湖). From the street directory, it seems that Ha Noi has many lakes. Hoan Kiem lake is beautiful and I just love walking along the lake under cold weather…. It would be perfect if my companion is a lady. We went into a few banks to enquire on money changing service but were told that they only accept US$. Damn, should have change for more Dongs at HCM! Then we had our late lunch at a restaurant beside the lake. The scenery was fantastic with cool weather. There are two unique things about Vietnamese food:
1) Vietnamese love to eat vegetable uncooked.
2) Vietnamese love to eat spring roll. They have various types of spring roll, not just the fried one.
After our late lunch, we continued to walk along the lake and visited the Ngoc Son Temple. Nothing impressive to the two men and after that, we decided to bash through the streets. We dare not buy anything as we were supposed to be “carrot” in the eyes of locals. Many mobile hawkers were trying to sell goods such as lighters, wallet and food to us. Then came a smart girl selling a few bananas and pineapples. She let us take pictures of her. We were interested as she was wearing Vietnamese hat (I don’t know what they call in Vietnam). It was fun and so we were obliged to buy bananas and pineapple from her. Good marketing approach and I granted her wish.
Ha Noi’s Night
After we wash up in our hotel, Bob’s friend Son came to pick us up in his big Honda. Not many people in Vietnam can own a car, let along a big car. This man is a CFO of a company. The usual corporate rank in Singapore context should be a Vice President. He brought us to a popular restaurant in Ha Noi – “Quan An Ngon”. And indeed, the place was cosy and there were many foreigners eating inside. Again, we had different spring rolls and our rice or noodles came with raw vegetables.
After our dinner, Son drove us around before bringing us to the Ho Chi Minh museum. There were soldiers guarding the whole compound. Son told us that Ho Chi Minh’s body is still lying inside museum for public viewing but only during daytime. The weather then was very cold, below 20 degree I think. Initially we wanted to wait for the last parade (flag lowering) at 9pm but we still have half an hour to go. No choice we gave up the idea and proceed to a pub for a drink to warm ourselves. One last thing to mention, Vietnamese really love to honk while driving, with or without traffic. IMHO, it’s more of a habit than safety consciousness. Son honk at least once every minute even at late night (clear road) while sending us back to our hotel. I kept quiet for courtesy. Anyway, I did not give Son my blog address so it’s ok I share here. Also CFO has no time to read my crap.
We woke up early in the morning and booked a cab to the domest
ic airport. Similarly, the traffic in the morning was hectic – massive bikes and thunderous honking. Fortunately we were inside a cab. And indeed you must take heavy traffic into consideration while planning your travel in Vietnam. Inside the airport, after we checked in, we were waiting for the bus to transport us to Jetstar. We asked the airport staff at the holding area whether if we could take pictures. She obliged. We were surprised and delighted as this is not allowed in Singapore. So we took lots of pictures during boarding and alighting at every Vietnam airport. After we boarded, again I asked an air stewardess if I could take picture of her. She replied that it’s ok to take picture but not on her. Well, I had been naughty and discreetly took pictures of her…. heehee!When we disembarked at Ha Noi airport, the temperature was totally different from Ho Chi Minh. It was cold with temperature of around 24 degree but still bearable to us. We were still able to walk around in our T-shirt without coat/jacket. I went to ANZ Bank counter in the airport to change for more Dongs. The rate wasn’t that fantastic as compared to HCM and they charged me 3% commission in US$!!! Crap! Ended up I got about 980,000 Dong for S$100; slightly lesser then what I got at HCM airport. Then we approached the airport staff to get us a meter taxi. But after we boarded, damn the meter wasn’t running. Bob asked the taxi driver to turn on the meter but the driver uttered some craps that we don’t understand. Or should I say we actually understand – he intends to crop us like carrot cake. And indeed, he charged me 350,000 Dong when it should be 250,000 Dong (Bob checked with the tourist information centre subsequently). Bob requested for receipt but on the receipt, the driver dare not write down 350,000 Dong. But I decided to rest the matter.
Our hotel (Hanoi Lucky Hotel, No.47, Ngo Huyen Hoan Kiem) is located along a narrow street, so narrow that our taxi couldn’t go in. The hotel was quite cosy and we were allotted the highest floor – level four! There is no lift so we need to climb the stairs. After we unpacked and sent in our laundry, we decided to roam around the nearby area. Along the street of Ha Noi, there are numerous hawkers beside the road. Locals just sit around on small stools to have their meal. I bet no Singaporean dare to try the food due to (presumbly) undesirable hygiene. But surprisingly, the “ang mohs” dare to eat along the roadside. The traffic of Ha Noi is similar to that of HCM except that the road is narrower. IMHO, it’s just as bad. But there again, people drive slowly, honk frequently, and will give way. There is no vulgarity or road-bully.
We visited a big old church before we reach “Hoan Kiem” lake (还剑湖). From the street directory, it seems that Ha Noi has many lakes. Hoan Kiem lake is beautiful and I just love walking along the lake under cold weather…. It would be perfect if my companion is a lady. We went into a few banks to enquire on money changing service but were told that they only accept US$. Damn, should have change for more Dongs at HCM! Then we had our late lunch at a restaurant beside the lake. The scenery was fantastic with cool weather. There are two unique things about Vietnamese food:
1) Vietnamese love to eat vegetable uncooked.
2) Vietnamese love to eat spring roll. They have various types of spring roll, not just the fried one.
After our late lunch, we continued to walk along the lake and visited the Ngoc Son Temple. Nothing impressive to the two men and after that, we decided to bash through the streets. We dare not buy anything as we were supposed to be “carrot” in the eyes of locals. Many mobile hawkers were trying to sell goods such as lighters, wallet and food to us. Then came a smart girl selling a few bananas and pineapples. She let us take pictures of her. We were interested as she was wearing Vietnamese hat (I don’t know what they call in Vietnam). It was fun and so we were obliged to buy bananas and pineapple from her. Good marketing approach and I granted her wish.
Ha Noi’s Night
After we wash up in our hotel, Bob’s friend Son came to pick us up in his big Honda. Not many people in Vietnam can own a car, let along a big car. This man is a CFO of a company. The usual corporate rank in Singapore context should be a Vice President. He brought us to a popular restaurant in Ha Noi – “Quan An Ngon”. And indeed, the place was cosy and there were many foreigners eating inside. Again, we had different spring rolls and our rice or noodles came with raw vegetables.
After our dinner, Son drove us around before bringing us to the Ho Chi Minh museum. There were soldiers guarding the whole compound. Son told us that Ho Chi Minh’s body is still lying inside museum for public viewing but only during daytime. The weather then was very cold, below 20 degree I think. Initially we wanted to wait for the last parade (flag lowering) at 9pm but we still have half an hour to go. No choice we gave up the idea and proceed to a pub for a drink to warm ourselves. One last thing to mention, Vietnamese really love to honk while driving, with or without traffic. IMHO, it’s more of a habit than safety consciousness. Son honk at least once every minute even at late night (clear road) while sending us back to our hotel. I kept quiet for courtesy. Anyway, I did not give Son my blog address so it’s ok I share here. Also CFO has no time to read my crap.
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