We decided to go to Hanoi from Cat Ba a day earlier than planned. It was quite cold and windy and we wanted to have some time to visit museums. We ended up visiting one. And only 1,5h because we mismanaged time. But the time we spend there, was very interesting. Every room portraying a different area of time. It was like walking through a book.

Konrad met up with a friend and one afternoon we spend time with a very kind german couple we met in Cat Ba on the boat tour and ate some japanese food together. Initially we were looking for Hot Pots and walked like 1h through the old town to find them, but there was nearly no street food anywhere. I was a little surprised because just the evening earlier the streets were FILLED with street food and hot pots (that’s something where everyone has a soup-broth infront of them and you can grill the veggies and meat you want by yourself at the table). Later we found out that we just were at the wrong time and these places all open in the evening.

We also had to try McDonnalds to compare if it tastes different (No it didn‘t, it was awful…except the matcha ice cream. That was INCREDIBLE!). We also went on a short bus tour to see more of the city. There was one very large mosaic wall that was a big volunteering projects bringing artists from different parts of the worlds and local schools together. And honestly, just walking and observing the surroundings and people is the best fun. There were two wedding photoshoots in front of some expensive brand shops. We saw a forklift just driving through the tiny streets filled with people and restaurant chairs. Motorbikes transporting gigantic plants. Four 60-year old women playing tennis on the pavements (they even put up a net!). Someone getting a professional haircut on the street. A group of friends gathered around 2 very focused old men playing chinese chess. You can probably just spend a whole day sitting at a café outside on the street and will not get bored.