HANOI

Hanoi, the state's capital is a wonderful city filled with history. Smaller, easier and less crazy than Saigon but worth the visit. I was here two weeks ago. Flew from Saigon and got to know a wonderful Italian on my flight. He was on his way to Sapa and we spent the whole day walking around the city. He kept a little travel-life-whatever diary (Moleskine of course) with beautiful drawings, quotes and other shit you put in these things. I love it. Three days later I read it got stolen by some stupid Vietnamese man. Poor Giorgio. 

The old quarter in Hanoi is a space with small crowded streets with wonderful food, little shops and bike stalls with flowers, herbs and other stuff. 

Other things were The temple of literature, exceptional old building, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, upscale bunker honoring the man and the one pillar pagoda, a lonely planet top pick but in reality a stupid 2m2 pagoda on an ugly concrete pole. 

There is a wonderful lake which enlightens at night in a full spectrum of changing colors. Not too far is the wonderful METROPOLE HANOI HOTEL. A very authentic luxury hotel, founded in 1901.

Afterwards I went to Halong Bay and Sapa.