Good Morning Vietnam!

Finally vacation... the next adventure and a new country point are ahead. On Monday morning at 4 AM, we headed towards Prague. The short city hopper to Frankfurt was quickly done. In the new Terminal 3 of Frankfurt Airport, we spent the last three waiting hours before takeoff with the usual activities. 1..2 vacation beers and something to munch on, and then it was announced:

'Your flight VN36 to Hanoi is now ready for boarding.'

After 11 peaceful hours of flight, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, finally welcomed us into its humid and hot embrace. Good Morning Vietnam!

At a cozy 30 degrees and 80% humidity, we first headed to the hotel. Drop off the luggage, quickly freshen up, and then into the chaotic hustle and bustle of Hanoi. Our time in Vietnam's capital is limited, so there's no reason to dawdle.

The traffic in the city can be chaotic. Motorbikes from all directions, cars weaving in and out, tuk-tuks, classic bicycles, and a lot of motorized vehicles make the streets seem like an insurmountable obstacle. Our first task was quickly recognized: How on earth do you cross these streets? After several unsuccessful attempts to wait for the right moment at the roadside, we finally changed tactics. 'Close your eyes and go for it' - is now the method of choice. Since the traffic chaos obviously follows a certain system, this approach works quite well - a bit of experience in parkour running can still be helpful.

Our first destination today was Train Street. A narrow alley lined with cafes and bars. So far - so unremarkable... if it weren't for this railway track, on which a train rushes by several times a day. We treated ourselves to a drink just inches away from the rattling train - simply crazy. The route is reminiscent of the Maeklong Railway Market in Bangkok and would be the forecourt to hell for any German safety inspector. :-)

The day's further stops were Hoan Kiem Lake and Hoa Lo Prison. Political prisoners and later US soldiers were held here for a long time. They nicknamed the grim place after the Hilton Hotels, 'Hanoi Hilton'.

Since our hotel is conveniently located in the Old Quarter of the city, we strolled a bit through the alleys with many colorful colonial buildings. The streets are full and vibrant, and almost every corner has a small market. This neighborhood is certainly one of the highlights of the city.

The rest of the day was all about street food. Hanoi, with its countless street food stalls, is, like all of Vietnam, one of the food lover's paradises in the world. Delicious glass noodles with water spinach, fish and pork meatballs, Pho bo Hanoi, lemongrass snails, and a Banh Mi for dessert ensured a considerable calorie boost, but were definitely worth it.

I'm rolling into bed now and will definitely go for a run tomorrow morning. ;-)

In this spirit: Sport on!