Spent a cold, uncomfortable night trying to get to sleep and was woken up at 5, this time by barking dogs. Extremely glad to be returning to Hanoi and Green Park Hotel, where one could at least have a decent shower even if the room smelled of cigarette smoke.
Breakfast was baguette with butter and jam, fried eggs, banana and coffee. Accompanied by the thunderous beat of disco blaring from next door. Which was P and S’s wake-up call.
Spent a lazy morning on the boat enjoying the scenery as it slowly wound its way through Ha Long bay back to the city.
Breakfast was baguette with butter and jam, fried eggs, banana and coffee. Accompanied by the thunderous beat of disco blaring from next door. Which was P and S’s wake-up call.
Spent a lazy morning on the boat enjoying the scenery as it slowly wound its way through Ha Long bay back to the city.
Lunch back in Ha Long city at a joint that was part of APT travel’s (Your pleasure’s our success!) network. More of the same, including potato with pork and fries.
Then a long nap before reaching Ha Noi around 4 pm. Replenishment was at Fanny’s (48 Pho Le Thai To, LP). Picked durian and com (young sticky rice) for an ice-cream version of the Thai dessert. Other delicious flavours tried included ginger, dark chocolate, gren tea. Came to about 35kd, including coffee. As I was about to drink from the glass of water, J’s horrified stare stopped me. But it turned out that S had already done so but no one had even noticed her raising glass to lips. At which point we promised to watch S like a hawk.
Went in search of Ipa-nima (LG) after that, but the number did not compute. The address given was 59G but the trail stopped short at 59D with no handbag heaven in sight. So we had dinner instead, at Brothers Café (26 Pho Nguyen Thai Hoc, LP). It was supposedly set in a 250-year old Buddhist temple, but little trace of that remained from the admittedly elegant restoration. The buffet (220kd) was above average and my favourite was the crab vermicelli.