Poptart

Hang Bo street in the Old Quarter

I'm back! I spent most of my time in Vietnam with about 5 days in Singapore thrown in there too. I loved being back in SE Asia. I used to live in Japan and I’ve done quite a lot of travelling through the region, but not a lot recently. So I enjoyed going back.

Instead of boring you with what I did each day, I thought I’d break my holiday down into subjects, a more palatable way for you digest. I’ve got a few photos to share (none of me, seeing as I refuse to be in any), I used the work camera which was great (except when everyday around 3pm it would have a hissy fit and not work for 12 hours).

Oh, and this is going to be long...

The Shopping (come on, you knew I’d start with that one LOL).

Shopping in Singapore was great – everything and anything right there. I drooled over Hermes scarves and Chanel purses. Unfortunately I didn’t do a great deal of shopping in Singapore, I picked up a cute pair of shoes (round toe ballet flats with a round silver buckle – totally adorable), a black onyx ring (encourages good fortune - I thought I should buy one ring for every finger so that instead of drooling over that Chanel bag, I could buy it) and a leather tote (camel coloured, large with buckles, are you sensing a theme LOL). I could’ve bought a great deal more but thought that because I was heading to Vietnam, it’d be cheaper there. First bad decision!

The shopping in Vietnam was a touch disappointing. Sure it was cheap and I picked up some nice traditional stuff (lacquered bowls, bamboo platters) but I’m not really into traditional Vietnamese crafts. I was looking for nice handbags (only found tacky and bad imitation designer bags) and shoes (embroidered silk slippers not quite what I was after). I did buy stuff though, I don’t want you to think I was deprived LOL. I picked up a pair of funky, chunky dark brown Gucci specs for US$30 (with my prescription lenses in them), a couple of fake watches, artwork (including propaganda posters which were a gift for the BF), small works of art, tshirt and hat with Vietnamese star flag on it and coffee. Oh man, the coffee is so good there! Really good. Which leads onto the next topic.

The Food

I did not have one dud meal. I hate incredibly well and sampled food from street kitchens to gorgeous French cafes.


Street kitchen cafe that did really lovely deep fried bahn goi!










In Hanoi (where I based myself) the French influence was quite strong, and I had some of the best French pastries and bread! And it was cheap. Beer (Heineken) was $US1 a bottle, water 70c. Baby pineapples sold by women in Non la (traditional conical shaped hats) were 50c for 4 (and so delicious, even if they did give me massive mouth ulcers). Croissants $1. I spent one memorable morning at KOTO, eating coconut and palm sugar pancakes and talking to Tom (who plays Lou on Neighbours!). KOTO is a non-profit restaurant and training programme that takes disadvantaged kids off the streets. Really worthy cause and the food and service exceptional (so good in fact, I went back on my last night in Hanoi for dinner). I ate pho bo (beef noodle soup), stuffed banh bao, spring rolls. And I drank a lot of coffee. It’s sweet and smoky and slightly nutty. Served hot or cold and with condensed milk! Highly addictive.

On my last day in Hanoi I went to the Sofitel Metropole for afternoon drinks at the Bamboo Bar.


Bamboo Bar, Sofitel Metropole, Hanoi












Sipping a Gin and Tonic, under a fan beside the pool was a wonderful respite from the noise and chaos of busy Hanoi streets.

The Place

The first thing I noticed about Hanoi was the noise. Hundreds of vehicles (mostly scooters) on the roads, all beeping and tooting. Hanoi is bustling and loud. The old quarter is crowded with its narrow streets and houses.


Busy Hanoi street












Stores and people spill out onto the footpaths (in between all the scooters that are parked there – I don’t think I ever got to walk on the footpath in the old quarter LOL).

Scooters all in a row











The old quarter is crowded and fascinating, charming and faded. The French quarter on the other hand, is quiet with its tree lined avenues and boulevards and French colonial architecture. The area around Hoam Kiem lake is vibrant with several trendy shops and the ubiquitous hawker trying to sell you photocopies of books and postcards.


Bridge leading to a shrine in Hoam Kiem Lake










I managed to get out of Hanoi for several days, I did a trip to Ha Long Bay, stayed overnight on a Chinese junk (boat).

My "junk", taken from the kayak I was paddling









The bay wasn't exactly what I had pictured, there were so many tourist boats! It kind of spoiled it really. But, I was fascinated by the floating houses that the local fisherman live in.


Floating houses on Ha Long Bay











A few days later, I travelled to the Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong). The only way to get to this shrine is by river (this is after a 2 hour drive from Hanoi). Local women paddle you up the Yen River, it's idyllic! So peaceful.







Locals on the Yen River











Rowboats on the Yen River










I met a great couple from Poland on the way to the Perfume Pagoda, we got on really well (our mutual love of vodka and travelling LOL).


The People

I met some really cool people on my travels, from young, gung-ho backpackers to older stylish French tourists. Trendy Japanese university students, public servants from the Philippines and a film crew from Korea. Local people were so friendly and thankfully, understood English (Vietnamese is a difficult language to speak, one word can mean different things just by changing the tone). Vietnamese people seemed curious about me, where I was from, why I was travelling alone and if I was married.

I definitely want to go back, this time to check out the gorgeous beaches and the south.

There's lots more, but I'll bore you another time.