We wake to a near perfect morning of 27 degrees and almost a clear blue sky with radiant sunshine. We had slept well after yesterday’s long day in the wet at Ninh Binh and this is our last day before joining the Viking River Cruises land tour and river tour of Vietnam and Casmbodia.

The first 2 weeks have passed quickly and been thoroughly enjoyable. Our breakfast this morning is in the restaurant at the Meritel. Jeanette negotiated aq late Checkout of 12.30 pm and we need to have our luggage down at reception by that time. We spend the morning quietly with Ken updating the diary and Jeanette puts messages on Facebook. Similarly, we send messages to Neville and Heather who are in the Qantas lounge before flying to Dallas / Fort Worth to catch up with their family and visit Disneyworld in Florida, Miami and also Orlando and the Space Centre.

It is then time to pack and we spend our time rearranging our packing to spread the weight. This all works well and we also change some US$ into Vietnamese Dong.

Our check out time arrives aqnd we go down to reception leave our luggage and then decide to do some shopping for a new Backpack as well as new sandals for Ken. We depart vthe hotel after the front door clerk escorts us across the road in front of the scooters bikes and the occasional car or bus, but it remains a nervous, stressful experience. It is now our understanding that you put your hand out and then keep walking and force the scooters cto go around you. Certainly not what we understand.

Our walk takes us passed several stores selling everything . We go into one store, but they cannot assist. We visit the next and speak to a Vietnamese woman probably in her mid forties and she speaks near perfect English. She has a variety of backpacks of varying size. We select one and then negotiate, probaqbly poorly aqnd agree at figure of US$34 down from $US45-50. Probably a fair price but we don’t barter and push. Anyway we are happy.

Then we are aqbout to leave and Jeanette inquires whether she sells Men’s Sandals and of course, she just happens to have some at a marked down price. To be fair they were just what Ken wanted. These were initially 1,400,000 Vietnamese Dong but we quickly agree a price of US$42 which she said was a bargain and too cheap which when converted was about 1,030,000 Vietnamese Dong.

From here we walked back along the Main Street, managed to cross over and returned to the /hotel and enjoyed a drink. We talked to the Restaurant Manager and they provided a little gift.

Our Taxi was ordered by the Reception Desk staff and 5 minutes later at 2.07pm and older vehicle arrived. the taxi driver is uncertain as to getting all of our luggage into the car, and one of our large cases has to sit on the front seat. The driver speaks no English and is very slow as a driver. Jeanette also notices that he covers the meter. We have about 3 miles to travel and we do this at a snails pace and Jeanette notices that he has covered the meter. Ken is not concerned as he has been advised by the front desk that a fare cost, subject to traffic, should be between US$10-15. Our driver doesn’t know where the entrance to the Lotte Hotel , Hanoi is located and tries to drop us off. However, the Hotel staff yell and direct him to them next entrance. We alight with all of our luggage and the staff come to collect our luggage.

Check in at The Lotte Hotel, Hanoi

We are assured our luggage is safe and we transfer to level 38 where reception is located. It is a stunning floor set up with magnificent floor to ceiling windows aqnd superb views. We are checked in within 2 minutes and we take in the beautiful lounge furniture and overall decor, before being taken to our Room 4503.

The Lotte is the best hotel by international reputation across all of Vietnam. It is a stunning room and well furnished.

We unpack , Ken also takes photos. Hopefully they do this hotel justice.

Our information pack advises that the Viking Rep will be available from 5.00pm-6.00pm and we introduce ourselves. We have a first briefing tomorrow morning on level 6 where the meeting rooms are located. There are several others checking in with Viking g.

Our thought re dinner change and after thinking of having dinner in the Steak House on level 63, we decide to purchase a range of food from the Lotte grocery/ market on ground floor. Finally we return to our room at 5.45pm and unpack and put a bottle of Coca Cola in the fridge.

At 6.35pm we decide to eat and thoroughly enjoy the food that we purchased for a total cost of about US$12. It was great and all we needed. We both had laughed saying we didn’t feel like a big meal.

This was a great result. We enjoyed the food from the Lotte Market ( Grocery Supermarket ). Ken changed and showered.

Jeanette completed the Laundry back for putting out tomorrow morning before we go to our briefing.