Hanoi and Goodbye Vietnam

We have spent the last five days lounging around our hotel room in Hanoi waiting for our Chinese visas to be processed.  It was a nerve wracking process because information on travel blogs we like to visit were inconclusive about the ability for US passport holders to get Chinese visas in Hanoi. But we were successful! Tomorrow we take a bus from Hanoi, cross the China border at the Friendship Pass, then on to Nanning.

Hanoi is a beautiful city with many French style buildings, lots of restaurants and activity, tree-lined boulevards, and a large lake in the center.

Old Quarter

We also visited the Temple of Literature - a university built in 1070.  It was quite small, but the diplomas were so cool! They are large stone slabs with stone turtles holding them up (turtles represent longevity and success in learning).

Jeff and I have spent four weeks exactly in Vietnam.  Some of our best travel days have been here (Ha Long Bay, snorkeling, riding a motorcycle).  Yes there are a lot of tourists, but there is a good reason for that.

Thank you Vietnam!