Day 9 - Ha Noi

First impressions of Hanoi is that it is large and has a heap of narrow streets. We are in the old quarter where the cheap eating and old style shops exist.

After dumping the bags at the Joy Hotel (recommended after the original hotel we were to go to was full) we searched out one of the "must eats" that is recommended in some travel books and by one of Dawn's friends (one she doesn't ever agree with). This place was NOT recommended by Walter and Herbert, the Dutch gay guys from Hoi An.

The place is called Cha Ga and it sells one dish only. Described as "grilled fish" it is in fact a frypan with about 1cm of oil in it, bought to your table on top of hot coals in a brazier with chunks of fish floating in it. On a tray you are also given a big bowl of raw greens, some coriander and mint, roasted peanuts and cooked cold vermicelli. The process is to chuck the greens in the hot oil along with fish, stir it around till cooked (or totally sodden with oil), hook it out with your chopsticks onto some of the noodles, top with coriander and peanuts, eat and repeat.

To pay 70,000 vnd to cook yourself seemed excessive and the food was so oily that I developed a galloping case of reflux, enough to make me cough for several hours while my stomach produced a heap of acid trying to counteract the oil.



Ended the first day at the net cafe paying 6000 an hour.