The next adventure begins

After a smooth journey, we arrived on time in Hanoi on Monday morning.

We were greeted by the hotel shuttle service, complete with name tags. The friendly driver spent the next 45 minutes explaining and demonstrating the 'traffic rules'. Motorbikes zoomed past us everywhere, squeezing through even the smallest gaps. The sound of constant honking filled the air.

Once we finally arrived at the hotel, we were able to check into our room almost immediately and freshen up before heading out to explore the Old Quarter, which is just around the corner.

We successfully mastered the challenge of crossing the streets. The traffic lights, if they exist, seem to be ignored by everyone. The motto is therefore: keep walking at a steady pace and don't stop. So far, it has worked quite well.

After a typical sweet coffee with condensed milk, we completed our walk around Hoan Kiem Lake with a visit to the Jade Mountain Temple. Two preserved turtles, said to be around 400 years old, were particularly impressive.

Afterwards, our stomachs began to rumble and we finally found some delicious street food bun cha in a small roadside kitchen. We sat down and without saying a word, we were served a delicious meal.

After a short break for lunch, we set out to try another Hanoi specialty - cafe trung (coffee with a foam made of egg yolk, sugar, and condensed milk) - at Cafe Giang, a recommendation from the hotel. We probably wouldn't have noticed it otherwise, as the entrance is small and inconspicuous.

After a leisurely stroll through the bustling atmosphere of the Old Quarter, including a small Vietnamese sweet dumpling along the way, we found a little unexpected oasis in another cafe, which also offered the next coffee specialty - coffee with frozen coconut milk. It was deliciously refreshing.

Feeling energized, we crossed numerous streets in the ubiquitous sea of motorbikes, this time with much more confidence. Back at the hotel, we treated ourselves to a spring roll snack and a tasty cocktail in the Skybar before ending the evening with a relaxing massage.

Now we just have to wait for everyone else to safely arrive in Hanoi and check into the hotel, and then we can reflect on the countless impressions of the first day before the next day of our vacation begins.