Welcomed in Vietnam

Side street in the Old Quarter - Hanoi

I finally found a friend to travel with, much to the great relief and happiness of my parents. A friend Tamara, whom I met at work, and I are traveling for a month in South East Asia.  After more than 39 hours of flying, with a much needed 12 hour layover in Bangkok, Thialand, we arrived in Hanoi Vietnam. Tam happily has friends here, who have been gracious enough to let us stay with them. A city that is only slightly larger than what would in North American standards fits 200,000 here crams 7million into their tight borders. Walking to driving the streets is a sight to see! With scooters and people walking amongst the cars swerving around one another appears as sheer chaos. But once a genral understanding of just walk straight into traffic with a slow and assured pace, and they will swerve around you, is understood, apparently you can master the streets of Vietnam. Tamara and I still wait for breaks in traffic and dash across, which makes us stand out as severe  tourists.

Ha Noi Beer

Her friend moved here a year ago and she and her husband are currently raising 4 young boys in the city. They have imparted some great local wisdom on us and are helping us plan portions of our tripss within the country. We have done a bit of exploring of the city as tourists today wandering the streets of the Old Quarter in Western Hanoi, and then also experienced some of the local and ex-pat experience going to the local markets, and eating "fast-food" from small street side shacks for Phò or bò which is noodles in beef broth.

Local Vendor Selling Hats

They have adopted the true Vietnam life style fitting a family on 5 on a small scooter. 5 months ago while pregnant with their 4th child they fit 3 young boys 8,5, and 3 plus the two adults (mom being 8 months pregnant)  on the scooter while they hustled and bustled through the city. To buy a car here is both in practical and unattainable. A $20,000 car is subjected to 100% tax. A scooter costs $1.50 for a weeks worth of gas.

Tomorrow night we will take the over night train to Sapa, in northern Vietnam which is close to the border of China to explore the rural villages of mountain tribes and try to venture into the jungle and the rice paddies of the local rural life. Happily the more we explore, the more Tamara and I realize we are on the same page for travel ideas and plans.
I will keep you updated on our progress, however I am currently missing out on Pizza and movie night with our new friends. Being the last time in a month I expect to have some north American options I cannot turn homemade pizza down!!

Don't forget where you parked.

David taking me and Tam on our first scooter ride. His two kids wanted to come too