Hanoi

Yesterday I arrived in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, after a long 13 hour bus ride. Of course, we were just dropped off randomly on some street side in the city. The few girls I sat next to on the bus didn't any booking for room or transfers, so of course the vultures swoop down declaring they're from the bus company and shoved them in a random taxi and drove off. They're safe some where, it's just that the lack of system in Asia is so pervasive. Myself and a few others who actually had an address to go to got left out in the cold street waiting for our "free taxi" that never came. Oh well.

First thing on the agenda was to hit the immigration office in central Hanoi and try to secure my visa. Well, as expected they're no help and I'm told to go to a tourist office to apply for one. But damn it, all the tourist visa told me to go to immigration! I still have an expired visa, but at least I havent' been arrested yet :) Oh yeah, my Citibank card is a no show as well.

Anyway, after finding a room at Hanoi Backpackers (the first European style bunk bed set-up I'v seen in Vietnam, $7.50/night), I spent the day wandering the streets of the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Gotta say, I like Hanoi more than Saigon, it's just too crowded. It's a lovely city with many things that are definitive to Vietnam: conical hats, touts screaming "hey, motorbike?" every 30 feet, street stalls, etc. Sorry, no photos yet as I'm totally in a rush to get to HongKong by the 17th.

I booked a 2-day boat tour for $29 and will be heading out to Halong Bay in 1/2 hour to tour the picturesque scenery and spending a night out on a boat.