30.03 - Day 74 - Mai Chau to Hanoi
We really like Mai Chau Valley - it has the mix of scenery, ease of getting about on the bikes, a nearby town with services, food options scattered around and one of our best accommodations at Little Mai Chau. But when we asked about staying an extra night, Houay the owner informed us the whole valley was to have a 24 hour power cut from 5am Saturday through to Sunday morning. The prospect of no fans or air conditioning was not ideal in the warm humid conditions so instead we book a minivan back to Hanoi for 9am. The casual, local nature of the area means Houay knows everyone so the minivan will swing by to pick us up rather than us walking to the collection point.
A final breakfast then with Sienna spending time with four kittens at the small cafe next door. Our bus company here had a rating of 4.7 (out of 5) on the Vexere app booked through versus only 4.1 for our return ride. Well we arrived in Hanoi, but it was certainly more hair-raising, plus a lot more horn hooting. Overtaking manoeuvres that left you wondering if it was better to be asleep so you couldn’t see the close calls. Added to the curves in the road to go up and over the mountain, plus the darting out and in was too much for Seb’s stomach - at least its contents were deposited in a toilet at the refuelling pit stop rather than in a bag on the bus.
We’d already booked our final three nights at Little Hanoi Deluxe where we’d stayed previously but because of the extra day in Hanoi we’re staying a filler night at Keypad Hotel, a 25 minute walk north from where we asked the bus driver to let us out on his way to the Opera House. I assume there was a plan for a digital hotel, but it’s not eventuated and we’re let into our anonymous yet comfortable hotel room in the Old Quarter by person rather than machine.
We relax in the room and play cards, before heading out to a second-hand bookshop and are able to trade in one of Sienna’s books plus our older Vietnam Lonely Planet Guide (Plus 80k vnd) for two new books for the kids to sink their teeth into.
We also take in Dong Xuan Market which contains everything under the sun, and we only saw one floor of its three before we refreshed ourselves with a mango smoothie.
Back at Keypad Hotel the kids get a healthy dose of Shaun the Sheep on TV, whilst Kate and I have a beer and cider, only occasionally watching bits of the TV.
Dinner is at the tried and tested BBQ joint on the nearby street corner with fresh Banh Mis all round. I also gamble on the deep fried object from next door which no one correctly guesses as a banana inside. As well as the Banh Mis being great, they’re only 25k vnd each so it’s dinner for four plus dessert for under $10 AUD. It’s a short walk to Keypad Hotel for more pre-bed card games.
