We were driven to Cam Ranh Bay / Nha vTrang International airport where we entered and were quickly processed by Vietnam business Check in and then went quite quickly through Security and then into then into the Lotte Lounge, where we waited calling of our flight to Hanoi.

Flight was called at 11.55am and we boarded quickly. It was a pleasant flight to Hanoi and we travelled the distance a little ahead of schedule. We collected our luggage, exited the terminal and we were met by two driver, being one arranged from booking.com and the second was through the Meritel Hotel, Hanoi. We quickly sorted out the embarrassing duplication and we were delivered to the Meritel inside 35 minutes. It is a small boutique 4.5 star hotel in the Centre of the Hanoi old town.

Check in was quick and efficient and we were advised that our room was available , they noted that we had upgraded for the 2 nights following our return from Ha Long Bay. We were also assisted a booking for a tour of Nihn Binh on Thursday 12th October 2023.

We didn’t have a lot of time as we are scheduled to undertake a foodie tour of Old Town Hanoi, being met at the Hotel at 5.30pm- 5.45pm.

Similarly, we needed to repackage as we are only taking a bare essential amount of gear for the i night and 2 days at Ha Long Bay.

Jeanette unpacks and Re packs and we are cloaking our luggage for the time away at Ha Long Bay.

Our Limo and driver are due to arrive at 8.30am on 10th October tomorrow morning. so we have a very busy schedule. We are very pleased the Meritel is a lovely comfortable 4.5 star boutique hotel located in the middle of the Hanoi Old town. Our Superior room is first class.

At 5.25pm we come down to the lobby and our guide for the evening Patrick (sau) arrives and we haqve a 10 minute walk to the hotel of another couple who are also doing the tour.

We then spend a fascinating and enjoyable 3 hours plus visiting 7 different family run restaurants within the nearby areas of Old town. We try several food dishes of vegetables and rice, then several salads as well as meat. We conclude by visiting a restaurant that sells only desserts of several varieties. We have a wonderful 3 hours trying all sorts of different foods and our guide is first class.

The other couple spent yesterday at Ha Long Bay and Daniel proposed to Helen . They are a Singaporean couple and we enjoy their company. They fly back to Singapore tomorrow after 3 days here in Vietnam. They now have the busy task of planning a lavish wedding for 18 months out.

We do tip our guide, and that is somewhat unusual here in ‘Vietnam. But he has done an excellent job and as this is his second job, he has a full life. He works in an office as a media stylist doing work associated with major media programmes and social media.

He gets us back to our hotel safely, after we have walked across and through motor bikes by the thousands and in many cases you assume there is no road rules. BHut he commented that in the havoc there is a situation where people do give way and do not have accidents. Accidents are rare and the many thousands of motor cycle riders seem to do an amazing job.

It is clear to us after several hours intermixing with the traffic, that you just have to be quick and do not dawdle ,just make a decision and walk across and through. It is quite simply daunting and challenging.

In to bed early (10.15pm) as we have a very early start with our trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.