Hanoi - Old Quarter

Hanoi is a frenetic, noisy, chaotic place!

Yesterday Linda & I explored the Old Quarter of Hanoi, which is where our hotel is located. It is filled with small shops, people, cars, and motorbikes, motorbikes, motorbikes!

Consumerism flourishes here in the Old Quarter! There are countless shops selling everything you can imagine - textiles, clothing, shoes, wallets, purses, bags, belts, watches, electronics, dishes, pots, pans, gifts of all types, and countless varieties of produce, food. Motorbikes bicycles & trucks run back and forth transporting goods to the shops. Shoppers walk, bike, motorbike and wander about. It is pretty much total chaos, and crossing the street is an adventure in and of itself. It is amazing that there are not more crashes.

We wandered the narrow streets and alleyways, getting totally lost and then worked on finding our way back to our hotel. It was a frenetic and exhausting adventure!

We also spent time today on a stroll around the lake beside our hotel. While we were exploring our little part of Hanoi, epiphany was moving from the dorms at school to the Opera Hilton Hotel and finishing here last paper. We joined her in the evening for dinner at a small restaurant.

We have not yet made out plans for today, but I am sure it will be another adventure. If it does get dull or boring, there is always going out and trying to stay alive while crossing the street!