Bye Da Nang, Hello Ha Noi

 I left Da Nang on the 18th and reached Hanoi on the 19th.

I stayed at 3 hotels in Da Nang. Looking back now, the first hotel was the best, price-wise, location-wise (very close to the beach), overall hotel service-wise. I booked that one long ago. That must be why it was cheaper than the others, which I booked only a few days before check-in. For food, I went to an Indian restaurant and a vegan restaurant called Loving Vegan. Sometimes I made noodle soup in the room, with the noodle packets I bought from Winmart.

The second hotel was away from the beach but close to the Han River. I saw fewer Western tourists and more Asian tourists in this area. The Han Market is also very close. I went there only once to exchange currency. Since my useless forex card doesn't work for online payments, every time I booked a hotel, I had to choose the pay-at-hotel option. And it turns out, every hotel asks for cash payment. 

This room was much bigger, but there was a musty smell. And sometimes I could smell smoke in the room. Which is strange. I don't even smoke. But at least they did daily housekeeping and gave drinking water. For food, I mostly went to a small place in an alley, run by a friendly uncle and his wife. It was homemade food. I loved the food. A few times, I ordered Grab food. During my stay here, I went on the Hue Imperial City tour. I met a 55-year-old American from Seattle, who was so chatty and friendly with everyone. I have one decent picture of myself, thanks to her. And she said I have good genes.😸

The third hotel was the worst and the priciest of all three. The room smelled when I entered. No drinking water, no bathroom mirror, no bathroom mat, insufficient lighting. The bedsheet was rough on the skin, and the blanket was stained. The room was so dim that I couldn't see my face clearly in the small mirror there. No housekeeping whatsoever. 

What made up for it was Vegan Bread, a small banh mi stall nearby. Run by a pretty mother-daughter (I think they were). For 15k, you get a medium-sized banh mi and 20k a large. I liked it so much, I went two or three times daily. One time, I went to Loving Vegan to have my vegan pho, and I met a 59-year-old American from Boston, Massachusetts. She was sitting on a four-seat table, and there were no other tables free. I asked to join her. She said sure. She was also travelling alone and had just reached Da Nang that day. We talked the entire time, and later, when I went to the restroom, which took some time since there was a line, she waited for me. We wished safe travels, said goodbye to each other and left. I remember her saying, "The cost of living, where I live, is so high." 

While in Da Nang, I walked a lot. By the beach, by the river, by the pavements. To parks, to restaurants, etc. One time, as I was walking on a pavement near the third hotel (which was also near the first hotel), the waiter at the Indian restaurant smiled, nodding in recognition, since I'd been to that restaurant twice. I smiled in return.

I checked out of the third hotel at noon, but the bus was at 8:45 pm. Hadn't thought this through. Only realized after booking the bus ticket. I hurriedly booked a hostel to spend the hours before the bus. I didn't even realise it was a mixed dormitory. Checked in at 1 pm and checked out at 8 pm. I almost missed the bus. I approached the bus conductor, showing my boarding pass. He showed me the passengers' list and on my seat number was someone's else name. So he indicated no to me. Then I moved away and waited and waited till 9:30 pm. The store guy from whom I had booked the bus ticket messaged me saying bus had come and was waiting for me. I was right next to the bus the whole time. I moved to the bus door, this time they had another list and my name was there. They let me in and immediately the bus left.  

Reached Hanoi, not enough cash in hand. Withdrew some from an ATM. Headed to my hotel, which was not a hotel but an apartment building. At the end of a very narrow alley. The security guy or the host told me to come back at 2 pm (It was only 10 am😪). I left my luggage and headed to a nearby park. Nice park, it was. I sat. Wiped my face with a wet wipe. Put lotion and sunscreen. Ate a banh mi ( I had packed two before leaving Da Nang, one I ate in the bus). 

Started reading Doris Lessing.