I am Wyatt Wang.Com

Good Morning Vietnam!!!!!! Just 4 months into my new job, I'm out for a trip again. Not exactly appropriate, I must say. But the return air tickets to Hanoi were simply out of the world (S$100 including airport taxes). Thus, I applied for leave IMMEDIATELY and bought tickets 7 weeks before the departure date. Before departure, I went to the library and got all sorts of Vietnam books. Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Moons, etc... You name it, I read it (every word in the sections of Hanoi and Sapa). I suppose all that reading burned me out since the information were similar in all guides. Thus, I stop flipping guidebooks 2 weeks before departure. 6 days were all that we can have for a trip and we decided to concentrate on Hanoi (capital of Vietnam) and Sapa (a hill resort near to the China border). In order to maximise the amount of time, we will do a 15 hr journey starting from Changi (Singapore) to Sapa (Vietnam), though flying (Singapore to Hanoi), taxi (Noi Ba Airport to Ga Hanoi), train (Hanoi to Lao Cai) and the minivan (Lao Cai to Sapa). EXCITEMENT overcame us as we stepped in Noi Bai. Vietnam, afterall, was a destination that we have wanted to be since our university days.

		Me with Dung, a cool Vietnamese friend who helped us buy overnight train tickets (190kdong/sleeper) to Lao Cai. If not for him, we will probably have to stay a night in Hanoi and will disrupt all travelling plans (Dung: MANY MANY thanks!). Not to mention my first Bia Hanoi (12kdong/500ml). Wonderful.
		In the streets of Hanoi, near Ga Hanoi (Hanoi Train Station), lies our first Vietnamese meal of beef porridge and BBQ pork ribs. It was interesting because we went past the stall while going to the train station and saw quite a crowd. We also had trouble ordering food but a Vietnamese lady (who spoke perfect mandarin) helped. Included a Tiger beer (my one and only), it sets us back by 62kdong. Not very cheap though.
		Bb with purple backpack looking for our Lao Cai train, SP1. It is suppose to depart at 2130hrs and scheduled to reach lao Cai at 0500hrs next morning.
		Due to some problem on the tracks, the train stopped at Pho Lu, a town which is about 20km away from Lao Cai. We then boarded a minivan to Sapa at 50k dong/person (it was US$4 before bargaining). Picture shows a farang talking to a Vietnamese in Pho Lu. Looks like they were engaged in some heated bargaining.
		We are in Sapa finally, after a 2hr trip. Bb posing in misty surroundings, near Tulip Guesthouse and Bamboo Sapa Hotel. It was drizzling, but it was so fine that it was something which we have not experienced in Sillypore previously.
		The passage way inside Sapa Tourism Center, a small place exhibiting minority tribal cultures around the region. Pretty touristy but I thought it was a nice picture.
		Bb outside Sapa Tourism Center. Although touristy, it did provided some important information on the minority groups around Sapa, though I thought the people seated at the reception were bored.
		The church at the Sapa town square. Was told later that it was a Catholic church. I suppose it needed a fresh coat of paint badly. This is also the location where the all-famous (now infested with tourists) saturday night market is held.
		Me and a glutinous rice cake filled green bean paste at 3kdong/piece. Quite delicious as the outer layer had turned crispy after frying. Note that my hair was all wet due to the fine drizzle.
		Our first Pho Bo!!!! Heavenly and perfect for the cold weather. It is made up of smooth rice noodles, thin raw beef slices, cooked over boling beef stock, topped with lime juice and mint leaves. Note the steam as Bb stired the hot piping bowl of noodles. Will never ever forget the taste. 8kdong per bowl. Also had a Bia Hanoi at 15kdong.
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