Thai Phuong Hoa Hanoi

... We also ordered a not insubstantial number of pints of rather tasty Halida beer. We got chatting to the two girls who worked behind the bar, who were very friendly and spoke decent English; they came and sat at our table, which was right next to the bar, when they weren't serving. Originally on enquiring we were told that the place closed at 11.30pm, but once it got to this time we were told we could actually stay; we'd in fact been invited to a lock-in... bonus! We got more ...

... know it is a Monday! And then finally after work going up a great stretch of road coming up into the old quarter and before I know it I’m by Hoan Kiem lake and it’s all lit up with the turtle temple in the centre of the lake doing its sparkly bit and then on to the mad junction which is lit up like a Christmas tree every evening. The women with so many balloons they all look as if they’re all about to take off up into the atmosphere never to be seen again ...

... was away for "repairs" in Russia. So we just wandered around the Botanical Gardens for a couple of hours. The gardens were full of people having their wedding photos taken, and I can't blame them as it was stunning scenery. From there we headed down to the Temple of Literature which is Vietnam's oldest university (well it was) and is from the 11th Century. After that we'd worked up an appetite, so we headed to a place nearby called KOTO ...

... John McCain, apparently). I was the only person there for most of my visit, and you may know I have a phobia about being locked in places, and it took some courage to walk through some of the rooms and corridors, without being able to see the way out at the other end.

Last night I bought a ticket for the Water Puppet Theatre, as it's just around the corner. My 2 quid got me one of the best seats in the house. I'd had my doubts about this show ...

... range, especially for this part of town, which is the backpacker district. After we first checked in and took showers, we were ready to eat. Toddled directly across the street to a vegetarian restaurant and hoovered down spring rolls, salad, and pho, all very tasty. We decided it wasn't yet time to go back to the hotel so went for a walk around the block. We actually walked in the street because most of the sidewalks were covered with ...

... as well as kebab stalls dotted through the city which we made full use of. They have numerous bars selling bia hoi which is the local draught beer and dirt cheap (it cost us 40p a pint in our "local"). The street are named after the trades that they used to sell (eg silk street). You still see streets which sell just one thing (eg there is a street which purely sells mirrors and steel boxes; you see rows and rows of shops/stalls selling them). The lake is also a ...

... together begins!

Met some girls in reception, Julia and Laura, who are also from the UK, got chatting and decided we'd all book our Ha Long Bay trip together. Found a good deal at the Elizabeth hotel - about 60 quid each for a 3 day trip - one night on a junk boat and the other in a hotel on Cat Ba island.

Met up witn the intrepid gang to see the Water puppet show and then drinks afterwards for Gen's birthday.

... ao, của Quan Vân Trường để lại, đứng trên đỉnh Hoá Châu chỉ xuống thung lũng mưa gió sấm sét, quát: Đất này là của Mã Viện; đại diện Robert Lucius, ngay giữa lòng thủ đô Thăng Long, đã nhã nhặn từ chối: Hoa Kỳ không cần bạn, chỉ cần đồng minh.

Trong buổi sáng tím tái, ướt đầm vì sóng biển, sinh viên Việt Nam muốn theo gương Trần Quốc Toản, giương l ...

... over for free to a booth and for us to keep our bags. There were indeed a lot of vietnamese people going to see uncle Ho, hes a lot more popular than Lenin, though perhaps not as popular as Mao. Ho's Mausoleum was the best looking of the 3 and the guards the snazziest dressed. All in white. There were perhaps not as many guards as at Lenin though. Uncle Ho looked very peaceful, the best embalmed. He does look a lot like the Colnel (KFC man) but that''s prob ...

... Lucky! Lucky!" they shouted all smiles and camera phones. I didn't feel that lucky now as my balcony window sat against the angle of the downpour, It was a covered area, but the windows were large and let in the wind and the cold. "Sir, sorry but Duck has finished for the day, so sorry". So I wasn't going to get my Duck Breast with 5 spice, ginger mint and coriander then. I turn my eyes back towards the menu for a plan B choice, one that normally ...