Getting Annoyed in Hanoi

The Kings family & I visited Hanoi in late September 2008. To be exact, we touched down on September 29, spent 2 nights in Hanoi, then off to Halong Bay for one night, returning to Hanoi for another night before flying out back to Kuala Lumpur on Oct 3, 2008.

Promise not to bore you with the tourist attractions but we did find Hanoi a total new experience. The ride from the airport to the town center was a gradual eye opening experience of what's to come. The distinct views of Hanoi were those really narrow and tall buildings, which all seemed to be of standard width.

And we saw more and more motorcycles as we approached town center. And traffic in town was apparently systematically chaotic. Our first experience of crossing the street was coming off from the van which stopped in front of the hotel! So basically, what you heard from the internet was true - don't dash, just cross slowly and the motorcycles will avoid you. And we made it! After a while, you would get used to the relentless honkings on the streets.

We chose to stay at the Old Quarter, I reckon it was the best place to stay. Hotel was a 2-3 star one. But great location, walking distance to the Hoen Kiem Lake. And no sortage of good restaurants nearby. I think 69 Bar & Restaurant was one of the best in around that area in Ma May Street. Its constant flow of customers made up of mostly western tourists seemed to indicate its popularity. However, we do have another favourite place for dinner, on Ma May Street too, I think it's name is Congnhan - or was it 97? The place has its own brewery for their own RED BEER.

Anyway, as a tourist, do take note of these - you don't want to get annoyed in Hanoi and spoil your holiday!

1. Bring a map - preferably one with Vietnamese writings
   We stumbled across taxi drivers who do not speak or understand a single word of English. Even keywords we assumed "normal" to taxi drivers like "Museum"!


2. Beware of Fruit Lady Scam - they go around with baskets on poles over their shoulder. They will insist on handing you the pole, and offered to take a photo for you with your camera! And then they will asked for some dollars! So don't assume they were kind and wanted you to have a "feel" of being locals. They only saw you as a walking dollar sign. ;)


3. Take only reputable cabs (like Hanoi Taxi) - We'd heard so many taxi scams before we went, but still we fell for one! You will know the meter is rigged when it jumps real fast! No mistake. We had to cut our losses at one point after jumping into one near the West Lake, and had to get off the next street because the meter was jumping absurdly fast!

Anyway, Hanoi was not all scams and cheats. We've also met some really nice and genuine people - who nearly moved me to tears. Perhaps it's been too long I have never met such nice people in Malaysia, I was overwhelmed when I met them in Hanoi. It was at one of the small alley along Ma May Street where we got some ground coffee from. The lady & her husband were taking time to make some coffee for all six of us to sample. They took out chairs, sat with us. Chatted with us with their limited English. It was so nice as they were not at all pushy, they were queitly grinding some beans, preparing the coffee, treated us just like their guests, their friends ... And after talking to the man, apparently he spoke a little Cantonese. And he's got a sign on the wall which has chinese writing, don't think that was common in Hanoi. Anyway, their hospitality moved us.