Mai Chau - Hanoi

Friday, March 13th

We were met by or local guide at 9:00am for a "walk" to two local villages. Pressed for more detail, the guide said we'd walk about two kilometers in an hour and a half - things move slowly here, evidently.

That's our hotel at the end of the road, and this is our first destination. A lone backpacker is probably making her way a "homestay" (of which there are many) to the bus back to Hanoi.

The two villages we were scheduled to visit specialise in weaving and selling local handicrafts. There are also many homestays (private houses set up as occasional, single customer guesthouses), and a few boutique hotels.

Homestays are relatively new, and "modern" version of the traditional Thai houses that most of the locals live in. There's one large room, a mattress in the middle of the room, a few "mod cons" and a bathroom off to the side. The owner probably provides a full or part pension.

Just outside this immaculately clean village we stumbled upon the Sunset Bar and Boutique Hotel, and its outlook is incredible. If I ever return the Mai Chau this is where I'm going to stay, or at least have a few evening G&T's! This is the view from the rooftop terrace:

Meanwhile in the nearby fields the buffalo were having a feed.

We asked out guide to extend our walk so we could visit the Eco Lodge - an accommodation option we looked at, but discarded on price and availability. This probably extended our walk from 2km to 5km, but we needed to quicken the pace. Unfortunately, every time one of us spoke (usually Prue), our guide would stop walking - I was getting impatient (unusual, I know).

We turned for home and visited the second village on our original schedule - more colourful fabric contrasting with local ponds and houses.

This village was also spotless, and this guy was apparently making a chicken coop, although we didn't understand how it constrained chickens (from eating the rice when it matures).

Prue had already shopped in the first village and was surprised to find the same stuff also available in the second village - surprise!

These orchids were a firs for the day though.

Back at the hotel, we packed and waited for lunch. Unfortunately, while we were ready to hit the road without eating, our mini van was also taking another group of four (Australians).

On the way back to Hanoi out driver was more considerate and stopped for a photo opportunity at the top of the pass - that's Mai Chau with our hotel sandwiched between the to sets of hills.

And there's us in the foreground.

Next stop just up the road is at the very top of the pass looking in the opposite direction. On the way to Mai Chau this view was hidden by fog - even today it's not very clear.

And here's the collection of food and drink vendors at the lookout. Hmmm...

This (not so) little piggy went to market...

You see all kinds of things on the roads, not to mention many near death experiences. Our driver redeemed himself a bit by slowing for this photo opportunity.

Back in Hanoi and the Friday afternoon traffic was not nearly as bad as the Wednesday morning traffic - but it was still pretty bad.

And there's always something even more bizarre being carried on a bike - and/or a pedestrian on a mobile phone with a death wish, or both.

Following TripAdvisor advice, we found a lovely bar called the Polite Pub and had a cocktail listening to jazz, and then a nearby restaurant with a street view for pizza and red wine (me) and soup with water (Prue).

It's still drizzing in Hanoi, but the locals just seem resigned to it.