22.03 Day 67 Hanoi

Friday 22nd March - Hanoi (Day 67)

A stronger start to the day, attending the buffet breakfast in the narrow dining space followed by schoolwork. Late morning we stride out past the spice sellers outside our Classy Holiday hotel making our way to Phuc Tam Art Project near the river; a collection of recycled art installations is an attempt to revitalise this strip - however the art is a little underwhelming - the locals having reclaimed the space as soon as the artists disappeared. The kids care not a jot though because another aspect was the building of a playground, allowing the kids to escape to being kids again. 

There is another art project on the way back, a long mosaic mural - the only problem being it’s on a wall against a dual carriageway and whilst there is a pavement, it’s hard to appreciate close up with traffic right next to you. One for motorists perhaps. 

Keen to try another local dish we stop at a hole in the wall serving Bun Cha; pork patties with salad, cold noodles and a warm sauce. It did the job, but it was no Cao Lau or My Quong. We walk south down past the lake stopping momentarily to watch the portrait artists painting a few patient tourists. 

It’s then the kids favourite time of day - Mixue time; for a soft serve ice-cream. This encourages the kids to walk back to Classy Holiday hotel for more schoolwork. 

I take the opportunity to sneak out (Kate very much noticed) in search of my first egg coffee. Just two blocks away, on bamboo ladder corner is a small shop front, where after ordering I climb several tight sets of curving stairs to three floors of balconies on which to enjoy the creamy whisked egg yolk layered on top of a shot of espresso. Surprisingly tasty. 

Back at base we walk out to find a restaurant we’d walked past yesterday, which is not the most straightforward task because places come and go from daylight to nighttime. We do find it though; a corner of pavement that has been consumed by small plastic stools and a portable charcoal BBQ; with a fan leaning over the flames sucking away the smoke. It’s a simple menu - pork or chicken, 1/2/3 skewers, with or without bread. We get served skewers in bread which are wolfed down by Sienna and Seb even with the salad inside - not something that would have happened two months ago. Kate and the kids then enjoy a pair of nutella and banana crepes as we browse some shops / market stalls.