Day 10 and 11 - Hanoi - no love at first sight

We arrived safely in Hanoi after a short flight. Even though TET is the first holiday of the Chinese New Year, the check-in and the taxi ride into the city worked without any problems. Already on the journey it is clear that this city is dominated by scooters. 4 people plus dog or gifts no problem. Driving occurs everywhere, including on the sidewalks. Crossing the streets as a pedestrian is a challenge. We are told: be strong and confident and NEVER walk back! Most of the sights are within walking distance, including the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and an ancient pagoda. Thousands of local families are traveling there on Sunday. Hanoi is loud, horns are honking everywhere, it's really quite dirty and you can eat on the street right on the sidewalk at the exhaust level of the 1000 scooters... Hanoi isn't love at first sight yet, but it's incredibly exciting, impressive and incomparable to the other Asian places major cities.