Our Hanoi hotel and lunch

Mama arranged transfer directly to our hotel in Hanoi. In the late morning, after a nice breakfast and coffee we said goodbye to Mama and were whisked off by van with the usual 'trust us' connections to our hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. Our companions were all young adult backpackers and the trunk space was full so backpacks and suitcases were loaded between seats. All seatbelts worked and Nancy was nestled in the back and Doug closer to the front. He advised her later the drive was just as crazy as our airport transfer, a lot of weaving in and out without the two car lengths stopping distance between vehicles they teach in driver's ed. She was happily oblivious to all that and her view was of wet rice paddies interspersed with housing off in the distance, and the odd cluster of mini pagodas (a cemetery). This gave way to increasing traffic and mixed old and new housing contrasting, then down a small roadway reminiscent of Europe and finally small enough that only motorbikes could pass. This was dotted with motorcycles, vendors and small alleyway stores. We were given a pleasant welcome to Splendid Holiday Hotel which is attached to Splendid Star Grand and Splendid Central and across from Splendid Pearlight. The young man at check in spoke English well and said he grew up in Tam Coc. Our room was not yet ready and a front desk staff suggested we go for the lunch at a chain called MET. We finally found it and Doug enjoyed his curry and Nancy a tofu hot pot with some stir fried garlic green beans as we were feeling veggie deprived.Read more