Jean writes:
Rose early but this time to be ready for the airport taxi.
The first part of the journey, in the centre of the city, involved the usual mass of humanity in/on cars, motor bikes, vans, cycles and on foot coming from every direction. We've marvelled at how everyone seems to find a gap and the correct road lane. In the UK there would be traffic lights at every intersection, which might appear to be safer, but traffic thus inhibited in Vietnam would be slowed considerably and I don't think people would stand for it!
We saw a further long stretch of the mosaic wall, which tells tales about Hanoi's history, mentioned a few days ago.
I was lucky to take any photos showing the mosaic walls without any motor bikes!
On the airport road, there was much less traffic and it moved more smoothly. The road was clearly a new one - and there was still work being done on occasions adjacent to the road. The airport is pretty new too but flight numbers are relatively small so everything is relaxed with no queuing. There were a few moments of apprehension when our boarding cards gave gate 30 while the screens indicated gate 20 - with quite a long walk between them. We were early though so made the journey between them with plenty of time to spare. In the event, the plane actually left from a completely different gate anyway, with no accurate information on any of the boards.
Great looking airport, no congestion, super loos, but poor as regards departure detail!
I was reflecting on Vietnam generally this morning. It is a communist country, and although there are political elections, there is one party and the outcome is evident beforehand. All citizens are supposed to vote - although one person in a family is allowed to vote for the others. Not sure quite how that works.
There is something of a hierarchy in that only communist party members can have government jobs, but your background may dictate that you cannot join the party. Apparently government workers receive pensions, but not other workers.
There seems to be a great deal of economic activity in the country and many people are able to buy a variety of consumer goods. There are certainly plenty of advertisements for electronic companies and the up-market fashion shops appear to do good business.
Our hotel was in the old quarter and very up-to-date, but the streets surrounding it were packed with small stores selling a diverse array of everything you could possibly want to buy and a lot more besides.
Up early again at 0600 for final run round lake ahead of early departure for airport.
Plenty of people exercising in groups round the water doing such as tai chi but only two other joggers.
City just moving into top gear for morning chaos but in fact it's been hard to distinguish between rush hours and non-rush.
Not knocking it though. It's been an incredible week with, for me Halong Bay a wondrous highlight.
---
At your convenience
For some reason our tour guides humorously often referred to the loo as the Happy House.
Comfort breaks are of course essential for those of more mature years but this is a new one on me.
Anyway all the loos I used were of good standard, topped this morning by the one In departures at Hanoi airport. A superbly pristine affair.
In fact, I couldn't have been happier !
The first part of the journey, in the centre of the city, involved the usual mass of humanity in/on cars, motor bikes, vans, cycles and on foot coming from every direction. We've marvelled at how everyone seems to find a gap and the correct road lane. In the UK there would be traffic lights at every intersection, which might appear to be safer, but traffic thus inhibited in Vietnam would be slowed considerably and I don't think people would stand for it!
We saw a further long stretch of the mosaic wall, which tells tales about Hanoi's history, mentioned a few days ago.
On the airport road, there was much less traffic and it moved more smoothly. The road was clearly a new one - and there was still work being done on occasions adjacent to the road. The airport is pretty new too but flight numbers are relatively small so everything is relaxed with no queuing. There were a few moments of apprehension when our boarding cards gave gate 30 while the screens indicated gate 20 - with quite a long walk between them. We were early though so made the journey between them with plenty of time to spare. In the event, the plane actually left from a completely different gate anyway, with no accurate information on any of the boards.
Great looking airport, no congestion, super loos, but poor as regards departure detail!
I was reflecting on Vietnam generally this morning. It is a communist country, and although there are political elections, there is one party and the outcome is evident beforehand. All citizens are supposed to vote - although one person in a family is allowed to vote for the others. Not sure quite how that works.
There is something of a hierarchy in that only communist party members can have government jobs, but your background may dictate that you cannot join the party. Apparently government workers receive pensions, but not other workers.
There seems to be a great deal of economic activity in the country and many people are able to buy a variety of consumer goods. There are certainly plenty of advertisements for electronic companies and the up-market fashion shops appear to do good business.
Our hotel was in the old quarter and very up-to-date, but the streets surrounding it were packed with small stores selling a diverse array of everything you could possibly want to buy and a lot more besides.
Dave writes:
Beside the lake
Up early again at 0600 for final run round lake ahead of early departure for airport.
Plenty of people exercising in groups round the water doing such as tai chi but only two other joggers.
City just moving into top gear for morning chaos but in fact it's been hard to distinguish between rush hours and non-rush.
Not knocking it though. It's been an incredible week with, for me Halong Bay a wondrous highlight.
---
At your convenience
For some reason our tour guides humorously often referred to the loo as the Happy House.
Comfort breaks are of course essential for those of more mature years but this is a new one on me.
Anyway all the loos I used were of good standard, topped this morning by the one In departures at Hanoi airport. A superbly pristine affair.
In fact, I couldn't have been happier !
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