Hello Hanoi

So from the extreme heat to the cold and wet Hanoi, Vietnam, and I do keen cold in comparison, we are now wrapped up in anything we have that is warm and have unpacked the emergency cagoull and waterproof ponch for Chris.
Yesterday was spent looking round Los Hanoi, but it was drizzling most of the day so not a pleasant environment to go sightseeing, however we did see much of the town and it's inhabitants going about their business frantically particularly at rush hours which was quite dangerous to walk around the streets in as it so packed with bikes and cars all going their own way and the avements are blocked by parked scooters in enormous numbers there is no way through without walking on the road, - I'm sure that's not legal!
Although I didn't know I still had any, I seemed to have pulled a muscle in the back of my leg so at present I am struggling around with the aid of Chris and Ibuproven so I hope that does not continue for too long.
I thought I may change the name of the blog to suite Vietnam so I asked the chap at the hotel what Gordon goes east is in Vietnamese, he gave me two versions the first was Phat Buoy an Viet Nam and the second was Well Hung Dong Her an Viet Nam, overnight I thought deeply about which one to use and decided that the first was not very complimentary, perhaps he knew more English than I thought and that the second was perhaps over exaggerated so I am leaving the blog title as it is for now!
Today we were following the Ho Chi Minh trail starting at his mausoleum, where he lies in state for 9 months of the year the other three he spends in Russia undergoing "maintenance", that aside he looked just as he did in real life, it was almost like I know him, wired!  We viewed the surrounding site with the French colonial palace, Ho's simple house and office within the grounds and subsequently his house on stilts where he ended up living by choice - very very minimal and stark.  Unbelievably we met a couple from Canada who we chatted to at the airport coming out here and then in the streets yesterday - maybe we are being followed!.  PS sorry no pictures of Ho - not allowed apparently and neither were my morning break bananas which were confiscated on my way in - boo hoo!

The weather has been better today with no rain and a slight bit warmer so much better for getting around enjoyably and tomorrow we are off to Halong Bay and will be staying over on the boat for a night and returning to Hanoi the following day, make a quick recovery and a flight onto Danang (final destination Hoi An) I asked Chris how far it was and she said Halong Hue!!!!  So will report how we fair hopefully in a bit warmer environment of Hoi An and Hue. Hopefully ( if I manage to get them added) photo's show a bit of yesterday and the major bits of today.