Didn’t sleep well last night because my uncle Hung and his wife invited me to a discoteca. It was rather funny because I don’t really dance but it was humorous to see ballroom dancing to pop music. I even turned to Su and asked if the two guys dancing with each other were gay. She laughed hysterically and said No. I guess that’s how they roll in Vietnam.

This morning we flew to Hanoi leaving Hue at 6:30 a.m. We arrived in Hanoi at 9 and took our taxi to our hotel. The hotel wasn’t very nice and from the name we should have known (“Youth Hotel”). At least we had our own room and didn’t have to bunk it up dormitory style. It was a notch up from your basic hostel. Anyways after checking in we decided to go in search of some food. Su wanted Fried Fish so we scoured the neighborhood for food. We ended up eating at a Lonely Planet recommended restaurant. It wasn’t what she was looking for but the food was decent. The upstairs dining room had a nice view overlooking the busy streets of Hanoi. I ordered some hotpot contraption and she ordered noodles. Nothing great to rave about. After finishing the meal we decided to walk around Old Town Hanoi to see some of the sights. We walked down to Hoam Kien Lake and then through some of the markets. In one of the sidestreet market I saw what looked like a roasted pig at first glance. My cousin mentioned that I should take a picture and show my friends. I didn’t catch on until I found out it was actually a dog on the table instead of a pig. Supposedly dog is bred in Hanoi to eat. There was a large market for it in a certain section of Hanoi. I’ll pass on that taste test. We walked around and did some shopping. I bought a few scrolls for some friends and a painting for myself. The painting was purchased in a small art studio just off on of the main street of Hanoi. The young lady selling the pieces invited us upstairs to the 2nd and 3rd floors. I saw it and immediately wanted it. The asking price was $150 but I purchased it for $120. I think I got a pretty good deal on the first painting I’ve ever purchased. They dismounted it from the frame and delivered it to my hotel for me. What service.

We had Pho for the first time this trip which I was really looking forward to. Hue was not a place that they served this dish. As I had found out certain foods are only prepared in certain regions of the country. Good Pho is found in Hanoi and Saigon. And good it was. After eating and walking around we went to get massages a few blocks down from our hotel. Yeah I said massage (not the illegal ones). I got some aroma therapy treatment which was comparative to Shiatsu. Anyways I felt really good immediately afterwards. Not so much the day after. My back and neck were pretty sore. It made the bus trip to Halong Bay pretty uncomfortable.