TravelBio

After the one day delay in Hue I was finally off to Hoi An, a half day drive south down the coast of Vietnam.  It bears repeating that even though two points may look close on the map, getting from point A to B can take a lot longer than you may expect.  The drive wasn't too bad this time round and we arrived in Hoi An by mid afternoon. Hoi An is just south of Hue in central Vietnam Unfortunately the American I was rooming with in Hue had to take a different bus (spots were limited).  He had already booked a hostel in Hoi An, but when I tried they were fully booked.  I rarely book ahead and usually it's not a problem.  Although the hostel was full there were lots of other places available, so nothing to worry about.  During the bus ride I met a couple from Austria and we ended up searching for hotels together.  We landed one in the center of town, and in the interest of saving money, went with a triple.  I was glad they were cool ...

From Hanoi I took an overnight bus south to the town of Hue (pronounced 'hway').  Compared to other countries in SE Asia buses in Vietnam are quite nice.  The overnight buses have reclined seats that allow your lower body to lie parallel to the ground, making for a much more comfortable sleep than in a traditional upright seat.  The legroom was still a bit cramped for me, but the average Vietnamese person must have ample space to stretch out! Seating on a typical night bus in Vietnam When travelers purchase tickets from hotels or tour companies they end up riding tour buses - filled with mostly tourists, not locals.  Rates can be higher but the standards are generally better.  Most offer a pick up service from your hostel or hotel, saving money on cab or moto trips to the bus station.  For some reason many bus stations in Vietnam - and in SE Asia generally - are not centrally located in cities.  Even in towns they are often on the outs...

Before my trip to Ha Giang (previous post) I was in Hanoi, and I made another stop in the capital on the way back.  The first time around I stayed in a hostel in one of the touristy areas of the city.  The place, called Hanoi Backpackers, is a popular place for young travelers.  The same owners also run hostels in several other cities throughout Vietnam. The Hanoi Backpackers Hostel actually has two locations in Hanoi, both downtown I thought my two nights in the hostel would be more eventful, but they turned out to be quiet.  On the bright side that gave me more time and energy to explore the city during the day.  Central Hanoi is surprisingly easy to walk.  Sadly most of the country was destroyed during war with the US, but old town in Hanoi is one of few remaining colonial quarters in Vietnam.  It can be fun just to wander around the winding alley ways, sample local street food, and sit at a cafe and observe the frenetic pace of city l...

For some reason I couldn't post all the pics at once, but I had to add a few more from my motorbike trip to Ha Giang province (you can click to enlarge them)!: