La Dolce Vita Hotel Hanoi

... types of Pho at the back. So the mum is working on the pots, the dad is wandering round taking money from people and occasionally sitting down to puff away on the hooka. Or rather sitting down puffing away and occasionally getting up to collect money. Meanwhile their 12 year old (I guess from the look of some of my students but it’s impossible to tell age in Vietnam) is mastering the wok. It was sensational. Half on the street, half in the door/wall way with bikes ...

... 3 forms, at 3 different counters, we sat and waited while they appeared to go off and find us a train. By the way, by now I could see that it was JUST us 3 on the whole train, weird. Eventually we were directed down a pitch black platform onto a pitch black train (they hadn't fired up the power yet), and into a really grotty compartment, by this grumpy conductor. Marilyn and I sat there looking bemused by the light of her phone, and then this little ...

... br><br>8th September <br>Probably the worst and one of the best days traveling all rolled into one.<br>Early start as our bus picks us up at 8, packed and went downstairs to suss out the breakfast situation, this time the guy ignored us and waved us away. Realising that we weren't going to get any breakfast we got our bags to check out, which is where it all started....<br>The price agreed for our room was $8, which we were a bit dubious about paying as ...

... time for an attitude adjustment.<br><br>Touchdown occurred late Sunday morning. We'd passed through 14 time zones. The airport itself was clean and really deserted. Passing through customs was a breeze. Our driver was waiting to meet us for the half hour transfer to our hotel in the historic district. It was an interesting but bleary-eyed ride through the hustle and bustle. However, hurtling pell-mell through crazy traffic and ...

... body is on display in a granite mausoleum modeled after Lenin's Tomb in Moscow, despite wanting to be cremated. The "honor" violated H&#7891;'s last wishes. Several months before his death, he wished to be cremated and his ashes buried in three urns on three different hilltops of Vietnam (the North, Central and South areas). He wrote, "Not only is ...

Another exelent buffet breakfast and a change in the days activities instead of Mau Chau some shopping and a visit to Hanoi Hilton, Museum and lunch at Brother's Cafe then a little exercise to explore the old quarter of Hanoi.<br> First of all a visit another shop selling products "made by war vetrans'. The lacherware, paintings and range of jewlery was first class. From there it is a ...

... arrived in Saigon, although there was information on the in-flight magazine about the taxi fare from the airport to the city, we still got a high-priced taxi of VND 400,000. It turned out as the wheels went rolling that it was a rented car and we paid before leaving to a guy they say was the manager of Dich Vu Du Lich Tourist Service (company name on the receipt).<br><br><br>We let it passed and looked for the Long Guest House. Guest houses that time were fully booked in Saigon ...

... house where they were making rugs and clothes. They found it absolutely hilarious when they tried to put me in their traditional clothes. I warned them they wouldnt fit but they were like "No, no, it big, it for man". Hmmm. After just about squeezing my shoulders in I managed to just about get it round to my sides - and then she insisted on putting a belt round it! It doesnt fit lady!!!! The pictures are hilarious but you're ...

... was no on-flight entertainment of any sort, nor any complimentary food or drinks, but at least the plane was reasonably new and comfortable. One oddity is that they did not seat Lisa and I next to each other, but instead on window seats in subsequent rows, even though we checked in two hours in advance. I figured that this meant the plane would be filled to capacity, but was surprised to see that there were a few empty rows as we took off. This worked ...

... ways. We were not allowed to choose the chicken and we suspect it was a VERY OLD CHICKEN. The meat was very tough and my jaws hurt after chewing..... **** love wine - the name according to Ah Fang, probably comes from the way it is drunk. 2 or more straws can be inserted and drinkers need to hold on to the jar from each side to prevent it from falling and spilling. Both need to drink and hold the jar at the same time in unison - and ...