We have arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam (the whacky race capital of the world)! I know we have wrote about the traffic loads already but this place beats them all. The three of us holding on for grimm death in that taxi from the airport (we were informed that it was the safest way). Theres no point even trying to explain to you all how mad it is...you just wouldnt get the full picture.

Hanoi so far: Lovely part of the world. We spent the first day walking abround finally finding the prison museum we were looking for, also known as hanoi hilton! John McCain was tortured here for 4 years - the unfirom he was shot down in still enclosed in a glass case. Then it was off to the lake for a dander round - Gary and Stephen reckon they have never walked as much in their lives!

So it was saturday night and where do three irish people go in vietnam.....FINNEGANS BAR!! We had some shepherds pie, a good old home comfort (but nowhere near as good as home)! Since we were the only irish in the bar we made a swift exit!

Off we went again for another walk trying this time to find Vietnams first university which conveniently doubles up as a temple! The strangest happening of the day happened here - we got asked to be in a photograph with a group of Chinese school girls and we still cant work out why. The photo will follow but the awkward look on our faces should say it all. We headed to a water puppet show tonight (a traditional vietnamese thing) and it was so bad that it was funny. We werent the only ones who thought this the women infront of us fell asleep. We treated oursleves to a slap up meal in Hanoi going by the guidance of lonely planet we had what can only be describes as the worst feed we have had here! No more advise on eateries from lonely planet!

Vietnam is a fast paced random country! 3am awoke by roosters (What other city has roosters in the centre??). 5am Cats howling/whaling asif they are being strangled (probably our breakfast). We also got to see some funny sights as the family of 5 went by on the one motorcycle and not forgetting the two workmen on bicycles trying to ride with 50 6ft drain pipes between the two of them. Off too Halong bay now for 2 nights. Will update soon!