The Hanoi Elite welcomed us back with rose petals! Everyone so sweet. They asked us why we chose to visit Vietnam during Tet. It turns out Hanoi is a joy during Tet because the traffic is much diminished, making street crossing less hazardous.
We got up at 5:45 AM to empty streets. A joy to be able to survey the surroundings without being on guard for cars and motorcycles. We walked down to the lake to watch the morning calisthenics and did a few of our own and watched a group of ballroom dancers (in evening clothes!) prepping for a dance session.
Ballroom dancers, dawn
Because of Tet, most restaurants are closed. Walking Old Quarter Hanoi are dazed tourists, forced to eat at sidewalk stalls (think tiny plastic stools six inches from the ground). We have had coffee on street corners twice now. I saw bunches of men drinking beer on one corner -- giant pictures of it. I exchanged looks with one of the men...no women or I might have joined them. I am, though, concerned about being a girl drinking beer outdoors in a city with no facilities....not worth the risk!
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