Wave Goodbye... It's about 1:45am, after we had a couple bottles of beer, Jason Gerald start his car engine and ready to sent both of us to LCCT. Our flight to Hanoi, Vietnam will be taking off at 6:30am, and we have to check-in 2 hours before the departure, and the distance between Malacca and LCCT is about 1hr30min drive.While we arrived at LCCT, it's about 3:30am, three of us decided to take early breakfast in McDonald's, before we can actually do anything.

Wave goodbye to Jason, check in all the luggage, get pass the immigration check, and finally we are sitting inside Airasia cabin, expecting 3 hours flight north-east. There is nothing much to see in the plane, even the pilot announce that we are flying above Bangkok, Thailand, as it's flying above the clouds.

Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport

As most of the traveller know, the time zone of Vietnam is GMT+7, where as Malaysia is GMT+8. Even my watch shows 9:30am at arrival, but local time is actually 8:30am. Thereby, our real journey was started. We look for the money changer in Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi, for some Vietnam Dong, and find the cheapest way to get into the heart of the Hanoi City.

By carrying a million Dong in hand, we walk out from the airport main building at around 9:00am, heading to the right hand side to catch public bus. Even we are millionair now, but we still opt for the cheapest way to enter the Capital.

Entering The Capital, By Bus

The scenario along the way really catch our attention, the mixture of agriculture and commercial area make a great view. Both side of the main road, there are large scale of paddy field, few shop-lots and residences.

Architecture in Vietnam is far more different than my country, Malaysia, there are a lot of 4 or 5 storeys "stand-alone"; building, creating a unique view. After get down from bus we heading to the Hoan Kiem Lake to look at the most happening spot in the city. There is a lot of locals, tourists, merchants mingle around.

First reason would be, money become something very important in this region, nothing's free. Secondly, because of the political system, those who camp outside the wall might suspected as spy, which we wouldn't want this happen. We have no choice but to seek alternative. Before thinking of accommodation, we have one more important task to do. We need to comfirm the bus ticket from Hanoi to Vientiane, Laos.

Our flight ticket is flying from LCCT to Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi and back from Wattay Airport, Vientiane, the missing link would be Hanoi - Vientiane. After seen many buildings were raising Vietnam National flags, we realised that citizens were welcoming their country's 33th Freedom Day (30-Apr 1975), many of them return from abroad. And we're arrive on the right time (wrong timing, maybe). Further more 01May is International Labour Day, both are public holidays, could there be any shut down of the bus service?

According to the guidebook by Lonely Planet, we learnt that Sinh Cafe is providing bus service that connecting these two capital. It's true that Sinh Cafe really done a good job, bus service is on as usual. We acquired our ticket departure at 7:00pm 01May, with the price of US$19/pax. We need a short rest, and we decided to have a cup of coffee at Candle Cafe, which looks cozy, and they provide WiFi service, too. Candle Cafe is located in front of Sinh Cafe. I switch on my laptop and shart a chatting session with Jason Gerald, asking about his camping trip 10 years ago.

Stop For Night

As in our initial plan, we are not going to stay in any guest house or hotel. Jason told us that his last visit to Indo-China, he and friends of his were camping at temples. And that's our plan. Before long, we realised that everything had change in modernization, we can't camp at any place. Kent: So, seems like we can't really do camping here, what's our next plan? Monica: Well, we already had carrying bag with total weight of 30kg, for almost 5 hours! A smart traveller would have put their luggage somewhere, and move around light! Kent: Okay, Let's try asking Hanoi's St. Joseph Cathedral. There might have some place for us to camp. Monica: you still think we should camp? I doubt you can find a place. Anywhere, you can try.

We have our next destination, Hanoi's St. Joseph Cathedral. We have a good photo session and wanted to ask the priest the for a night, but unfortunately (maybe fortunately), he is not in, and Monica looks really tired and exhausted. Well, I think we should put aside camping, and start looking for a guest house. Our hunt for guest house started, it's about 7:00pm... (to be update soon; Actually we've tried a lot of guest house, but no luck.) Finally, we found a nice cafe cum guest house, namely Real Darling Cafe, which located at the Hang Quat Street.

Even though that guest house is full, but the operator, Mr. Nyen, allow us to stay in the staff room, US$6 per day. ^.^ "What?! Staff room?" "Yes, exactly! Staff room." "Allright, we can have a place for night then. Finally, there is place for 20kg luggage." After Having a nice dinner in Darling Cafe, we just call it a night.