Good Morning, Vietnam

Hello from Hanoi, the city of 10,000 cafes…or at least that’s what it feels like. I’m very much enjoying Vietnam’s charming capital and hub of the north. Cafes, coffee, fresh spring rolls, turn-of-the-century French architecture, the hustle and bustle of a Southeast Asian city – all my favorite things rolled into one.

I’ve been enjoying this trip solo thus far. There’s a chance I might meet up with an expat friend of mine who could play tour guide for me, however unfortunately he’s currently out of town and may not be back before I leave. That’s alright. I’m managing just fine with my A Rough Guide to Vietnam. Each morning over breakfast, Rough Guide and I plan our day together. Since I have eight full days here, I usually don’t pack too much into any one day. Hanoi is a great walking city so I spend a lot of the day just wandering the streets, stopping at one of the thousands (ok maybe more like just hundreds) of aforementioned cafes for a cup of Vietnamese coffee (it’s specially filtered and very strong and delicious), and enjoying the cooler, more pleasant than Bangkok weather.
Of the many museums, monuments, etc. I’ve visited thus far, ones of note include: the Museum of Vietnamese Women (actually the museum itself isn’t much to write home about, but there was a fascinating exhibition on the life of female street vendors – very eye opening), Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Fine Arts Museum, and a performance at the Water Puppet Theater. Upcoming: a trip to the Perfume Pagoda, a classical music concert at the historic Opera House, and a sail around Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site.

While traveling alone definitely has its moments of loneliness, it can also be great fun (not to mention all the time it allows for self-reflection, personal growth, la-di-da...). I can really do whatever I want whenever I want. I’ve also met a lot of very interesting people, both locals and foreigners. One local stuck up a conversation with me the other day, commenting on my “beautiful white skin.” Of course she meant it as a complement, but all I could think was, “Really? I actually thought I was starting to develop a bit of a tan from all the walking outdoors.” Ha, I guess my version of a tan is still pale and fair in a Southeast Asian’s eye.

I’ll be in Hanoi through Sunday morning, where I’ll either fly straight back to Bangkok, or maybe make a two or three day pit stop in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon). Whenever I arrive in Thailand, I’ll probably bus my way up to the north for Songkran, the 3-day Thai New Year festival, stopping in a few towns and cities along the way. If I still have enough money in my bank account, I definitely intend to spend a few days in Laos and would love to revisit my old stomping ground in Cambodia. I must prioritize, however, so I’m thinking Cambodia will likely get shafted.

These days I’m mostly just taking one day at a time, however I’ve learned that despite my desire to be all easy breezy and “live in the moment,” I still can’t help but worry about and plan for the future. Where will I live? What will I do? How will I make money? These questions pervade my thoughts daily, and I’m trying to find a balance between enjoying the now yet being reasonable and practical. That being said, I still have no idea what’s in store beyond next week. Any suggestions are gladly welcome in the “comments” section at the bottom of this entry. Thank you in advance for your insightful ideas.