After spending the last couple of weeks in remote countryside, we were thrust into this:

I didn’t mention renting a motorbike once.

Needless to say, Hanoi was a little bit of an adjustment for the both of us, but Meg was excited to be back on somewhat familiar territory. As some of you have commented on, we picked an interesting week to be in the city. Hanoi was hosting APEC and so there was much hype around so many world leaders being in town at once. No Dubya sightings to speak of.

Meg played tour guide for the first couple of days, taking me to all of her favorite spots around the city. Our hotel was in the Old Quarter, a section of town that has markets that have been selling the same things for 500 years and so the streets are named accordingly.

Many side streets and alleys hold things that speak to the ancient charm of the city.

From one of our hotels, we could see over the rooftops of Hanoi.

At night the streets would glow with activity.

The food in hanoi is amazing, and we certainly enjoyed it. From Vietnamese Pho noodles on the side of the street to funky expat sanctuaries to French restraunts with balconies overlooking the bustling streets.

Hanoi is at crossroads between it communist past and its economic future.  Meg sees the city as having changed since she was here last, and no doubt it will be different when we return in a few years. 

Meg on the bridge to the temple in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart of the city.

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