Welcome to Vietnam! Hanoi edition

Hanoi is a stark contrast to Bhutan. The city has 10 times the population as the whole of Bhutan (8.5 million vs 80,000).

Walking down the street is an exercise in patience and faith in the organized chaos. It's constant motion, unending honking, smells, sellers, languages and a never ending sea of people. If it weren't for Google maps I'd be constantly lost.

When I arrived, after a day in transit, there was a foul up with my hotel reservation that ended up with my location being switched to a pristine, brand new apartment in the Old Quarter, right next to 'beer street' (which sounds like I'd enjoy it but it's more about the ear splitting music from each bar than it is about beer, so in the end, not my speed).

Here are some highlights:

Vietnamese white coffee and the abundance of croissants and french bread.

Michelin star rated pho

Banh mi

From Banh Mi Mama, near St Joseph's

Water Puppet show (except for the big head in the row in front of me)

Theater, before the performance

The performers