Hanoi - the moody northern metropolis

Hanoi comes across as the moodier, more sombre counter to the bustling Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in the South. However, it should not be missed, if you have the opportunity to visit. Our first foray into Vietnam was a single day visit to HCMC, so we missed Hanoi on our first visit. A subsequent 14 day tour rectified that mistake!

I say 'moody' as we'd flown in from a very sunny Phu Quoc, to be greeted by early morning mist / overcast skies, which added to the melodrama of the transfer from Hanoi airport to our hotel.

Add shuttle-cock football, evening stroll by lake, water puppet theatre, changing of the guard, HCMs house, peddle tuk tuk, food, notre dame, missed egg coffee and hotel,