Day 13

This morning we pack for Hanoi. Obviously because it is our last day here the sun is shining. Thank you Hoi An!  Doesn't take us long to pack and then it's just a case of waiting to go.
The driver picks us up and takes us to Dunang airport. When we came in it was night time so we didn't see much. But today we the Marble Mountains which look amazing. If we had known we could have visited them. The road to to Dunang is full of marble sculptures too. Dunang also has some amazing architecture. The sports centre as what looks like a spaceship for one of it's arenas. It's the mix of 21st technology and historical Vietnam that makes it such a fascinating country.

Get to the airport with plenty of time. Have a bite to eat and queue up at check in. The clock starts to get closer to boarding time and we don't move. We tell an official our plane is boarding but she says it will be alright. Panic starts to set in as we get nearer to take off. Finally they take us out the queue to another desk. As we checking in the official keeps bringing over people who are on the same plane as us that have to be rushed through because their plane is boarding. Finally get through (and strangely looking back the lines have all disappeared) but time is tight and as we get to the long line at security our plane is on last call for boarding. The line moves slowly and then Remi's bag is opened because he has a bullet he bought at the Chu Chu tunnels. A souvenir bullet. Make it to Gate 9 and I steam ahead like Goerge Constanzo, ignoring all other passengers when I see the last bus.  But we're on and we're off into the sky.
The other end at Hanoi airport was amazing. Walk off the plane and there's our cases on the carousel. So we're out of there in 5 minutes. Hanoi is hot. Sun is blaring.
We get to the La Siesta Hotel mid afternoon and the staff are again lovely. We're right in the middle of the Old Quarter and near the lake. So we quickly freshen up and go for an explore. Hanoi is quite different to Ho Chi Minh City but the motorbikes here are still pretty wild. The French managed to build wide roads and roundabouts here when they were in charge. The wide roads are just so hard to cross when there is a 100 bikes and cars heading towards you. Sometimes you just walk into the traffic. Usually the bikes will go round you.

The lake is beautiful and there are crowds of people both tourists and locals just sitting and chatting or strolling. The noise of the traffic is a bit much but if you can ignore that then it is quite serene. We getting hungry so we end up at a Highland Cafe for a beer and some fries and milk shakes for the kids. I have another Vietnamese pork baguette. They are delicious. Then it's time for a chill out before dinner.
Dinner tonight is at the New day restaurant. To get to out seats we had to move through a labyrinth of steep stairs and also walk through the kitchen which looked amazing. And the food was amazing too. beef and chicken curries with rice and spring rolls.Pushed up against each other in a small crowded area with Vietnamese locals. A great experience.
We get the kids home and Liz and I go out for a nightcap. A couple of Mojhitas at the Nola Bar across the street. Again a trek through steep stairs until we're up on the rooftop. The drinks are a bit heavy on the mint. Like a jungle in there. But it's good to be just us two. Really should of done it sooner.
Then it's good night.