hanoi, you're a sight for sore eyes

Hanoi, what can I say about you? You're the best of both worlds - a foreign place and a big city. You've already made a space in my heart. I'm reminded so much of London being here and you guys know how much I'm obsessed with London.

Side note - I feel like every place I've been to has been one of my favorites and I like it better than the last place. That's normal though, right? But this one... I'm really diggin'.

So back in Luang Prabang, Anna and I had an interesting roomate situation in our hostel so we decided Hanoi was going to be our "splurge" city. Staying a few nights in Old Centre Hotel and enjoying a half spa day, did just the trick! Our concierge at the hotel was by far the most amazing help we've encountered. I wish she was like Polly Pocket so I could stick her in my backpack and take her the rest of the trip.

Hanoi offered something that no other place has so far - great clothes! Yes, I shopped and I don't feel guilty at all for it. A new sweater, a pair of jeans, some converse and some overalls were the lucky items that made a warm welcome to my backpacker attire.

Just like other places I've been too, there was a night market, museums galore, and temples for days. The Women's Museum and the Hoa Lo Prision (aka the prison where John McCain and other fellow soliders were kept during vietnam war) made our itinerary.

The food here, well the food here is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼! 

Pho has never been better. The BBQ - no, not your typical BBQ with sauce and coleslaw - has been excellent. So good that we went to the same place 2 nights in a row. The happy hour deals are endless, beers being about $1 and not tasting like some shitty High Life. All these places offered street seating where you're able to sink yourself into some excellent people watching. Hookahs or Shishas are also popular here. If you follow me on snapchat, you saw my love for shishas during Hanoi.

So must dos here:
- Water puppet show (Go early though and book a ticket because shows sell out fast!)
- Ha Long Bay boat tour (Do not even bother going if you only plan on making a day trip. You'll be spending over half your day in a bus going to and from Hanoi.)
Note - visit Ha Long Bay in the warmer season here. Not going to lie, it was cold and foggy but still a great view. I even added a new item to my bucketlist - visit the 7 wonders of the world. Luckily 1 is already marked off. Anyone want to join?
- Enjoy the Women's Museum
- Take advantage of cafe balconies and watch the insane traffic to see if anyone wrecks
- Eat as much BBQ as your stomach will let you

As always, I'm wishing I could have stayed longer here. But other places await our presence... just like the overnight sleeper bus ride to Hue. Wish us luck! 

P.S. I have tripled check that this bus is an actual bus and not a minivan