Hanoi, Vietnam - 7May07

A Day with Hanoi Kids

The train wasn't as bad then. i actually really slept and woke up at 5am then. My knees were kind of clamped but got ok after a while. The good things are at least one got to go to toilet as need/want and i could at least washed my face and brushed my teeth.

The train arrived on time at Hanoi. i am not sure whether i got down at the wrong train station or what, but the road name that i expected did not appear. So i took a taxi to go to the guest house i wanted to stay. Again, they did not have a room, so i just simply choose one with a price that i am willing to pay.

The famous sinh Cafe is every where in Hanoi. i went to the genuine one and booked two of my trips. i wouldn't want to take any chances for any trips involved with travel agent.

The highlight of the day should be the tour with Hanoi Kids. Two young girls, one 19 and one 20. They guided tour was basically so so, nothing inspiring. But i enjoyed the interaction with the local people, especially got to know the local university life. Too bad that HCM Mauseleum was not open, so i got to find another time to go there later.

The water puppet was really a master piece of art. It was lively and intersting. i was sitting in front of some chinese tourists. The aunties were so enchanted with the show that they were giving their own inerprestation and were laughing most of the time. So i ended up enjoying the show as they do. Well, this time, i used my camera without paying the 15000 D fees.



This is one of the Vietnamese girls who shared the very clamped sit with me. She doesn't speak English but her kindness will always in my mind.
When i travel, it is always those kind people that remains in my mind.



The train arrived at Hanoi Ga (Station).



Temple of Literature. The tortise has the names of those who were succeed in their examination (金榜题名).
The temple was founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius in order to hornour scholars and men of literature accomplishment. It is a rare example of well-preserved traditionsl Veitnamese architechture.



One Pillar Pagoda, built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25m in diameter, is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow.



Ho Tay (West Lake). One of the legends: Ho Tay was created when the Dragon King drowned an evil nine-tailed fox in his lair, which was in a forest on this site.
We had hightea in a lovely small restaurant by the lake.



Dong Xuan market. There are hundreds of stalls in this 3-storey building, employing around 3000 people.



Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword), right in the heart of Hanoi.
There is a Ngoc Son Temple sits on an island near the northern end of the lake.



The fantastic water puppets show.


MOENY MATTER:
1.) Accommodation: 140000 D]
2.) Food: 69000 D
3.) Transport: 44000 D (taxi from rain station to hotel) + Sapa soft seat train (135000 D)
4.) Sights: 1050000 D
- Tam Coc + Hao Lu Day trip: 256000 D (USD 16)
- Halong 3D2N: 784000 D( USD 49)
- Temples/Pagodas: 10000 D
- Water Puppet: 20000 D

[Withdrew ATM 2000000 D. Local bank charged 20000D]

Chau Doc, Vietnam - 20Apr07

From Cambodia to Vietnam, by Mekong River

i bought the ticket from Capitol tour at USD 7. It was mentioned as 'express' boat, but it was a slow boat. The bus to the river supposed to set off by 8am, but like usual, there was a delay for 40 minutes. The first hour of the road was ok, but the other one hour towards the end of the journey, due to the construction of the road, it was bumpy and very dusty. The aircon of the mini van was not working, so we had to choose either heat or dust.

The slow boat took around 2 hours to reach the custom of Cambodia. The guide from Capitol tour told us what to do, so no problem. We left our bags in the boat. This continued with another probably 15 minutes of boat ride, then we reached Veitnamese border. We had to carry our own bags, as there was a change of boat. We paid a 2000 Dong to get a piece of whatever paper to the custom or whatever government agency (i did not understand what is said by the guide, so i did not know who and what we paid for). i changed USD 1 to Dong with the guide because the rate was not good, 1 USD to 15000Dong. Then we handed over our passport to the Vietnamese guide and said bye bye to the Cambodian guide. We was asked to wait in a cafe for the guide to get our passport stamped. It was around 1pm then, the restaurant staff would show you their menu, so it is up to you to buy something or not. Price was around USD 1 - 2 (Luckiliy i got my own food). After half an hour, we got our passports backed, carried our backpacks for X ray and we were on the other boat. This boat ride took us almost 2 hours to reach Chau Doc and was more scenic than the previous Mekong ride then.

The guide gave out a brochure (from Sinh Cafe) regarding on Mekong Delta Tour. No hard selling, just let him know if you wanted to join. i took a 2 Days 2 Nights tour. It was around 4.30pm by the time we got to Chau Doc. So i got this night for 'free', then tomorrow night for 'free' at Can Tho too. This trip was USD 26, i supposed to pay another USD 10 for single room, but the guide waived it off because of i am a Malaysian and solo female.

i walked around Chau Doc town once i settled down. There was a beautiful buddhist temples and i walked around the market. The biggest problem i found here was, i have nothing to eat. People don't understand English or Chinese and i couldn't find vegetarian food. i ended up bought a lot of fruits as my meal and back up supplies.



The cottages by Mekong River.



The kids are normally keen to waive at foreigners.



The "Express Boat".



MONEY MATTER:
1.) Food: 35000D
2.) Package tour including accommodation: USD 26
3.) Others: 2000D
<1 USD = 15000D ; 10 USD = 15500D>