For a second time we are in Hanoi and we were all set for a road trip in the mountains today but woke up to a thunder storm and torrential rain. We decided to postpone for a day but our hotel room was already booked. After a night of dodgy power cuts and no air conditioning we were offered the “Lake View suite” at a reduced rate. And here is our fancy pants, stormy/atmospheric rooftop view…….
After a pretty good thunderstorm show we ventured out.
We watched the world go by in plastic ponchos and cagoules.
We particularly like two under each poncho….
Last night (when it was dry) we tried to see if we could explain to each other the “stringent” traffic rules from a bar overlooking a junction. Basically anything goes, buses always win, everyone no one can drive cars, and if you don’t look at your opponent you just need to keep going slowly, slowly, slowly …..
In Hanoi they use every space. Buildings are incredibly narrow fronted but long and thin (apparently the tax is based on the width of the house), they live on bridges, farm underneath bridges, live next to the rail tracks – everywhere!
This fruit stall was also someone’s home on the bridge.
The pig farm was underneath a busy road and railway bridge.
This barber’s became a restaurant in the evening!
The locals seem pretty happy here and at weekends they close off the road around the lake so that everyone can have some space for letting children play safely, exercising (yes we ran around here three times), walking dogs (yes small dogs as pets are becoming a “thing” here now too), letting children ride electric rented cars, adult skipping competitions, practising acrobatics and of course the national pastime of getting dressed up and posing for photographs.
