Hanoi Hotels
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Hanoi and the chinese embassy
Entry 31 of 32 | show all | print this entry |
The girls and I had about a 40 minutes taxi ride to Hue airport. Our flight was at 08.00 am and was scheduled to get us to Hanoi by 09.00am. Our tour leader Hong had been an absolute star and organised our taxi to the airport and arranged for our transport the other end, and also for us to arrive at our Hotel earlier than which was planned on the tour. This is where the benefit of having a Vietnamese guide has really counted, as the language barrier is a real problem. When you cannot get a taxi driver to understand what you mean by airport you know you are in trouble!!! Hong has been invaluable for our trip through Vietnam so far, and that the whole group is totally agreed on.
The flight all went to schedule and we arrived at out Hotel in Hanoi at about 10.00am. I had been on the chinese embassy website for details about opening times etc, but as it is all in chinese I did not find it much help.
I had been told the embassy was in walking distance, but decided to get a taxi as I was very keen to get there ASAP. I managed to obtain the address and showed it to the taxi driver and off I went( the girls went off to find the Indian Embassy ) The traffic was quite heavy and it took about 20 minutes to get there - the cost 16000 Dong ( about 55 pence )not too bad ! I arrived at the embassy at 11.00am just as they were locking the gates. There was a soldier on duty outside, but once again the language barrier is an issue. I had sensible got myself a small phrase book which had the normal useful phrases and translations that you might need on a holiday. This is great but as the words are totally unpronounceable to a typical english ( useless at languages ) idiot, then it was not much help.
I do manage to find a notice board and a sigh which has the opening times as 08.00 to 11.00 and 14.00 to 18.00. I now have three hours to kill. There are a lot of local people hanging around in this area trying to sell you stuff books, maps, drinks etc and soon get fed up of getting hassled. It is extremely hot today, and I am dressed smartly ( as advised for a visit to an embassy ) so have trousers and a shirt on. I manage to see a continental style cafe that looks very smart accross the road so I make my way to that. I kill time by having luch and a couple of beers and reading up on Hanoi from my Lonely planet Guide ( they are just the best thing ever invented !! )
Three hours later I return to the embassy - gates are still locked !!! I hang around for 30 minutes, still locked. I then get to meet a really friendly vietnamese lady who speaks very good english. She explains to me that the embassy only opens in the morning on a friday !!! So basically my trip hads been a total waste of time, and I could of stayed with the group today and then got the overnight train with them to Hanoi from Hue.
I get a taxi back to the Hotel ( 20 minutes and 33000 Dong this time - Yes I have been ripped off !! ) I unfortunately have met a couple of people this morning that have seemed to want to rip me off. Buying a can of drink, I am not given the right change, struggling to get the right change from the first taxi !! I give this taxi driver a 100,000 Dong note, he then gives me change for a 50,000 note. By this time after my wasted day i am seriously pissed off. When I proclaim very louding to him " Give me my f*****g change" I seem to overcome the language barrier and he grumbles and gives me another 50,000 note!!! It may be less than 2 quid we are talking about, but its not the point !!!!!
Anyway I spend the rest of the day looking about. The shopping here once again seems, good everything is very cheap. or should I say "reasonably priced " !!!
I meet Alsion and Margaret for dinner, and we go to a really smart restaurant called " Koto " This is run by a non profit organisation who train and educate young people in catering, and the art of serving customers. The place is great. The prices are more expensive but the three of us get a great meal and a bottle of wine and a few other drinks for about 6 pounds each.
The girls had had no more luck than me today. They had got to the Indian Embassy to find it was closed for an Indian public holiday !!! They have decided to travel onwards to our next Tour location of Halong Bay a day early. I have decided to stay here in Hanoi, and have a quiet day to myself before the rest of the Tour arrives here on Sunday morning....
Latest Comments (4)
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Girls ! (reply)
May 3, 2008 18:54 EST by norm49
Hi Dom
I must of missed some episodes or some exciting part of your life , share it with me , tell me. It's only you and me. Your opening words in your last blog are, and I quote ' The girls and I'.
Girls, Girls you drag us right round to the other side of the world and leave it about ten dats befor you return home. you must of seen thousands of diffent girls form many different contine... show all
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Girls ! (reply)
May 3, 2008 18:54 EST by norm49
Hi Dom
I must of missed some episodes or some exciting part of your life , share it with me , tell me. It's only you and me. Your opening words in your last blog are, and I quote ' The girls and I'.
Girls, Girls you drag us right round to the other side of the world and leave it about ten dats befor you return home. you must of seen thousands of diffent girls form many different contine... show all
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Girls ! (reply)
May 3, 2008 18:54 EST by norm49
Hi Dom
I must of missed some episodes or some exciting part of your life , share it with me , tell me. It's only you and me. Your opening words in your last blog are, and I quote ' The girls and I'.
Girls, Girls you drag us right round to the other side of the world and leave it about ten dats befor you return home. you must of seen thousands of diffent girls form many different contine... show all
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Girls ! (reply)
May 3, 2008 18:54 EST by norm49
Hi Dom
I must of missed some episodes or some exciting part of your life , share it with me , tell me. It's only you and me. Your opening words in your last blog are, and I quote ' The girls and I'.
Girls, Girls you drag us right round to the other side of the world and leave it about ten dats befor you return home. you must of seen thousands of diffent girls form many different contine... show all
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| 31. | Hanoi and the chinese embassy - Hanoi, Vietnam Apr 19, 2008 (  4 ) |
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