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Hanoi, Viet Nam
21° 1' N 105° 50' E
Jan 29, 2007 18:14
Distance 874km

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Scooters everywhere

Text written in: English

I caught the Airport shuttle into the centre of Hanoi where I was hoping that they were taking me to the Hostel that had been recomended to by by somebody in China. After the second hotel that they took me to I asked them, if they weren't going to get any commission if they dropped me at the hostel that I had asked them for, there was a smile from the co driver so I thanked them for nothing and started walking followed by to guys off the plane who hadn't got any where to stay, as well as a tout for another hotel. After the guy in Yangshou I definetly wasn't going with him and so started to head off across the city on foot. In the Lonley planet it says about crossing the roads. 'Walk don't run, look the scooter driver straight in the eyes and try not to flinch as they swerve towards you and misses you by inches.' This is an amazing adrenalin rush, the best for months, when theres 12 a second passing you in a never ending stream it a scarry thing trying to cross. I havn't been run over, yet.

The touts, moto drivers and street traders are alot nicer here, after you say no once or twice they leave you alone, unlike the Chinese that chase you down the street and get very upset when you don't buy anything. It dosen't seem to be as developped as much as China, I haven't seen any KFC or Starbucks and I think there is only one Macdonalds in the whole of Vietnam, Saigon I think. Its a nice change and what I was expecting China to be more like. The people must be more wealthy as there are hardly any bikes and Scooters are every where. Out of every 25 viechels on the road only one of them seems to be a car or bus. The driving here is equally as bad, except that they are driving loads faster and I have seen more accidents here than in China. Its alot more laid back and lots more tourists walking about the street, I haven't seen the south yet, but lets hope its as nice.