Hanoi is much like Ho Chi Minh City, busy, loud and manic which was a bit of an assult on our senses after the serenity (well mostly) of Cat Ba. We treated ourselves to a nice hotel and have taken full advantage of room service and our mini bar. It has been an absoulute luxury to have a separate shower and toilet, and having our room cleaned daily.
We would have been more enthusiastic about exploring the city if we had started here, however we are a bit templed/cultured out and by this point have been happy enough to roam the streets exploring, drinking coffee and eating good food. The big exception to this was our trip yesterday to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. In the style of other Soviet heros / leaders, Uncle Ho was preserved for display against his wishes of cremation and is visited daily by hoards of Vietnamese people and tourists. Although a little strange it was fasinating seeing Ho Chi Minh just looking like he had died yesterday surrounded by armed guards in white militatry regalia.
It is our last night here, we head to Singapore tomorrow afternoon for a few days - then home. We are both really looking forward to returning.
