Hanoi Mix-Up

We'd just arrived in Hanoi and were keen to see the infamous Hoa La prison, described in our guide book as the “Hanoi Hilton”, where captured American soldiers were detained in the Vietnam war. Being new to the travelling game, I simply hailed a passing cyclo and asked the driver to take us to the Hanoi Hilton. After a few minutes it seemed obvious the old boy was going in the opposite direction. Wary of a scam, but not knowing the way ourselves, we kept silent. Some moments later he proudly dropped us off at Hanoi's newest 5-star hotel: the Hilton. Shaking with laughter, we paid the the fare, left a big tip, and watched him pedal bemusedly away. Five minutes later we were enjoying a cold beer on its rooftop terrace - the real "Hanoi Hilton" would have to wait for another day.