Had an earned sleep-in (had gone for almost 50hrs since getting up Thu morning) and gone to bed at midnight as out with group from Hanoi Internations at night on dinner cruise. Enjoyed meeting all those different people, even 3 Germans, a few Brits, and some Aussies - some teaching in English Schools and English Catholic schools all sorts of subjects. After the dinner cruise we went to another place for a drink. The place is run by an Australian lady and most customers are expats - so prices accordingly. Nice place, though
Day 2 is cultural. Took a taxi to the Ho Chi Min Museum. The Mausoleum closed at 11, so as I got up late and then had breakfast, I missed that one. Only visited from the outside. The Museum is interesting through.
Outside a 63yrs old Vietnamese approached me, could speak only a few words of English but should me a tiny notebook filled with tourist's 'thank you' notes. So, he offered me to show me places and to take me on his motorbike. That is a 'must' experience and should be on your 'to-do' list if you come to Hanoi. Being part of the thousands of bikes on the road is an incredible and exiting venture.
We went to the Museum of Ethnology which shows the way people lived years ago and still do in different parts of the country. Very, very interesting. A great museum. We finished with a coffee in a typical Vietnamese cafe where it's 'cheap' to have a drink. I would have liked to invite him a a real nice place but he chose that one, so took up the suggestion and shouted him an iced coffee - a very different version to the one back home. Very sweet. Tea and coffee are both served hot or cold and I get always asked which one I want as most people here drink it cold. Fresh milk is as good as unknown. Instead, they serve very thick and extremely sweet condensed milk with it. It sits as a thick layer on the bottom of the glass with the tea/coffee above. Takes getting used to. Tip: don't stir, that way you avoid the sweetness
