Hanoi, Hanoi...back on its frenetic streets. Things are as busy as ever. A haze perennially shrouds the city, the number of touts has increased, and no one, from street vendor to supermarket cashier, lets you off if you pay with a grubby banknote (I don't think we encountered this last time?).
Having seen many of the city's sights, we escaped the chaos and clamor (as well as the rest of the family- hehe) by ducking into courtyard cafes, funky galleries, and a hidden museum in the Old Quarter, mostly around Hang Be and Hang Bac.
We also made it out to Halong Bay and the intriguing grottoes of Ninh Binh. Despite the throngs of tourist boats in the bay, a sort of languidness lingered, perhaps because of the thick mist that envelops the isles.
On the whole, travel in Vietnam is tiring and it never feels like a holiday; although it's an interesting enough place with good veg fare and excellent coffee, I'm always glad to go home.
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