Arriving in Hanoi

I arrived in Hong Kong for the start of Lisa and Eli's Vietnam Adventure on Friday, July 16th.  Checked into the Bishop Lei International House (thank you Will), and turned on CNN to hear a typhoon was headed straight for Hanoi.  This is the storm map.

It looked to me like we were heading to the vacation from hell, but miraculously, the winds vanished and our flights landed nearly on time at Hanoi Airport.  What's a little rain anyway.

The Hanoi Airport was small, casual, and relaxed compared to the Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong airports we came from.  As our plane descended, sleek skyscrapers and brilliant lights were replaced with views of rice paddies and villages with almost no lights.

Families were hanging out in the airport holding flowers for those arriving, children running around and playing.  An overall very relaxed atmosphere.

I changed $300 which turned into more than 5 million dong.  This is trip is going to take some serious higher math.  Eli and I negotiated our cab fare to Hanoi - just 300,000 dong.

I knew our hotel - the Sofitel Metropole - was reputed to be the nicest in Hanoi (for less than the price of a Marriott Courtyard back in the USA), but was not prepared for how lovely it is.  It's my new favorite hotel.  Who cares about a typhoon and a bit of rain if you can stay here.

Eli and I checked into our room then headed to the outdoor bar (all bamboo and wicker armchairs) for wine, spring rolls, and artichoke and began to catch up on all that's happened the past month....