One day in Hanoi

Breakfast and a private car to town provided by the airport hotel. Had to get dropped off far from the next hotel because roads were closed off for celebrations. I could never figure out if this was a typical Sunday, focused on Halloween (lots of kids and young adults in costumes) or what. Whatever it was it was ever so fun. I walked through this park around the lake, among the streets of the old quarter. Many women were dressed up either in modern very nice dresses or in traditional wear, they often had bouquets in brown paper of small white flowers and someone was taking their picture.

Driving from the airport was a hoot. Roads are often narrow and there’s no real concept of rules about where cars, mopeds and pedestrians will be and going in which direction at any time. Even on the freeway, cars and mopeds make use of the service lane at their whim to pass on the right. Yes, the mopeds are on the freeway. There is a pretty bridge into the city, then a picture that doesn’t truly get at the essence of the chaos. In the party atmosphere of the old quarter an entire road was blocked at both ends from all but pedestrian traffic and kids were zooming around in a bunch of little electric cars. I had to smile because it was like the early training the kids for their later chaos driving.

Once Jan arrived we took care of some trip details and then wandered out into the chaos of the park, the old quarter and the night market. Got a bite to eat at a cute restaurant in the middle of the action. Took pictures of the colored lit bridge (I’ll fill in what that is, later.) We wandered the night market, Jan always hopeful of lucking into some artist or items that she might purchase for sale—alas, it was very commercial and the fact that mopeds were allowed, if not cars, still made the traffic hazardous.