Being a tourist in Hanoi

Walked to Bach Ma Temple stopping to get a cache on the way. The temple had beautifully decorated roof trusses and uprights. We then walked to Dong Xuan Market selling all-sorts including fish, crabs, soft shell turtles, birds, fruit, veg, household items and souvenirs. From here we walked to catch the 'Hop on hop off bus' for a tour of the city with audio guide on the top deck which was very interesting. Having done the full circuit we hopped on the next bus and went back to see the Tran Quoc pagoda and temple. Nice pagoda and the temple had an impressive set of gold Buddhas. Looking across the lake from here we could see the smog. The pollution in Hanoi is dreadful at the moment - it can be smelt and tasted in the air. A teacher told us the sensor in the nursery school he teaches at here registered the air quality at 300 yesterday! We looked it up and 300 is hazardous! How do people live here? We caught the bus back to the old quarter, stopped for a drink and shared a piece of cake. Walked back to our hotel stopping to collect our laundry on the way. In the evening we went back to the same restaurant as last night - The Hanoi Social Club- as we wanted to try the burgers we had seen served. We were not disappointed.Read more