Oh me, oh my, Hanoi!

After a quick goodbye to our bus driver and a hop off the bus, Jen and I found ourselves on the side of a hectic street in old town Hanoi. Like all major cities in Viet Nam, the streets were mad! It must have been lunch hour rush? We grabbed our bags and turned the corner to head to our hostel. Since there were loads of pedestrians in the street, we found it to be the norm and started walking to our hostel down the road when BAM! You will not believe it... but I, a pedestrian, hit a motorbiker. EEEEK! Thankfully she didn't fall off just had to brake quite quickly! She was very nice though; she even gave me a smile; nevertheless, I felt horible! I feel as if that must be one of the few times in history where the roles were reversed in a pedestrian vs. motorbike showdown. 

Night markets...

A few of our nights we strolled the streets of a huge market. Besides looking at all the booths full of fun things to see, touch, and taste, I enjoyed watching the constant stares locals were giving Jen. She was asked time after time how tall she was. As a perk to her height, she was able to navigate through the crowds with ease whereas I was typically 10 or more feet behind Jen. Viet Nam also has a huge industry in illegally copied and burned DVDs, TV boxed sets, video games, books, etc. Every fourth store is a playland for any movie lover. We had a great time shopping around those stores.

Loads of copied books.

At the end of the market.

In the market...talk about a lot of colors to pick from!

Their meet kabob sandwiches were magnifico!

Bun Ca & Other Deliciousness... 

FOOD. Hanoi is full of loads of incredible restaurants, lounges, cafes, and bars. If you haven't ever tried Vietnamese food, Bun Ca has to be the first thing you go taste. It is a vermicelli noodle dish coupled with candied pork, which is served with a lightly sweet sauce full of sliced carrots and zucchini.It's out of this world...

Bun Ca!

Best pho of the whole trip!

East meets West during our complimentary breakfast.

Nothing like coffee and a book.

Phenomenal spring rolls.

The War...

One day we took a stroll along a small lake in the middle of town.

 Afterwards, we visited the nearby jail to learn some about the war and its treatment of captives. Crazily enough, half of the jail was torn down and replaced by none other than a Hilton... I'm sorry, WHAT? That's too many years of anguish to be built on top of. 

The jail was used for both Vietnamese and foreign captives. One remaining corner of the jail was where they held American pilots captive; the Vietnamese guards treated them with a lot of respect for being in a jail. They let them decorate a Christmas tree during the holidays, drink alcohol, play sports, cook when they wanted, socialize, etc. however, they were in jail. On one wall was a short description about John McCain; he was also held captive in that jail. And do you remember that lake? John McCain was pulled out of it after being shot down in his fighter jet. In the early 2000's, McCain returned to visit the jail where he was held during the war. Another pilot, after his release, continued on to become an American Ambassador to Viet Nam. Quite a marvel. 

Farewell Dinner...

On Jen's last night in Asia, we went out for a scrumptious dinner down the street; we even put on two of our dresses we had made in Hoi An! It is crazy to think that we got to marvel at so much in 36 short days together. Although it was quite sad to say goodbye in the same street I decked the motorbiker in, we both know that we have future adventures to take together!

Assorted spring rolls.....

Incredible duck!

Can't get enough bun ca!

Off to China!