Au Revoir Vietnam

I write this sitting in Hanoi airport waiting for the first of three flights which will take us home. We are flying via Bangkok and Abu Dhabi. With Etihad and Vietnam Airlines. In future I think we will try to Emirates or Cathay Pacific as before.

Yesterday Michael and I went into the city, to the fab Richard market, a very good fair trade craft shop called CraftLink and up to the Old Quarter. 

A successful trip, silk and cotton jersey purchased, along with a couple of items from the craft shop. Our walk North up,to the Old Quarter was interesting as usual, lots,of street crossing to negotiate, tak8ng our life in our hands!!

The area around Hoan Kien Lake is pedestrianised at weekends, so there are artists, peopl hiring electric cars, food sellers etc. It makes the walk around a pleasure. There were still some New Year displays, although we saw several peach blossom trees in the back to the rubbish cart.

J

Lunch at Avalon turned out to be a more exciting than we would have liked. The cable to dessert display cabinet caught fire! It is located near the door. I was out like a shot! We were on the fourth floor (UK counting), we waited just outside the restaurant by the stairs until they put it out, then continued with our lunch!!

After lunch we walked north through the Old Quarter to Cho Duong, a very large market, with all sorts of sights and smells.

New Year Lucky money envelopes still on sale.

And New Year lanterns!

Flight called!