Day 76 - Hanoi

Busy couple of days. Got back to the hostel on Sunday for happy hour - few beers, then a nap for an hour. Got up and met Jess and Tess for some scrabble. Fußball then, which suddenly got intense! Playing with Jake, Zoe, Jordan and J&T. A bottle of vodka was bought, and we went to the Bucket Bar across the road. The police arrived, and drove everyone out, even using a taser of one of the bar girls. We walked across the highway to the Lighthouse club to dance the night away.

Yesterday morning, myself, Less and J&T took the hostel's walking tour. Two Belgian girls also - Debbie was one, didn't get the other girl's name. Viet was our most excellent guide, showing us the various sights of the old quarter. The streets are each based on a trade - so one street is full of shops selling tin, another selling sweets, etc. One is 'paper offering' street, selling items to be burnt as a sacrifice - paper money, paper cars, paper iPhones... Saw the local market, and Hoan Kiem lake. Went to Hoa Lu prison then, and managed to hook up with Ger. Some really interesting photos of American soldiers kept in the prison during the war - even a shot of them enjoying Christmas dinner.

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Inside Hoa Lu Prison - the "Hanoi Hilton"

Walked around the lake, and we were approached by a random Vietnamese dude - Ho. He asked to walk with us and practice his English. visited the Ngoc Son temple, on an island in the lake. Then Ho said he would bring us to a real Vietnamese place for food. We felt a scam approaching, but went along with it. Had some nice pork and beef, and then we tried some dog. The skin was crunchy, then a layer of fat, and then some tough meat. Not game-y, just a bit gristly. Chicken arrived with half of the head, and a foot. Tried each of those, but not much eating on them.

Board games in the temple

Mr Scammer and Lee

Dog

The bill amounted to a million VND - about €35. The string was the dog - should've checked the price before ordering, but a tenner each isn't so bad. Brought the chicken foot back to the hostel for fun and games. Happy hour again, cards with Lee, Ger and Diana (half-Spanish, half-American). Roped in some Americans - Stefan, Isaac, Jay and Emma, and had to buy a few new decks. The gang arrived then - J&T, Lachrissa, Louise, Nat, Tori, Jay, Zoe. Lots of drinks, then to the Market Bar for a dance-off with Lachrissa. Ended up sleeping in a spare bed in the hostel, Get went home early-ish to the hotel.

Came here [hotel] now, place is decadent! Had a shower, a bath, and another shower. My feet are in ribbons. Going to go off now and see what the day has in store! Not sure I can do a sixth night out in a row.

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