I’m decidedly out of ‘flying overseas’ practice – 10 hours to Hanoi was exhausting (and worsened by having to pick up one’s checked baggage in Ho Chi Minh, walk between international and domestic terminals and check in again to fly to Hanoi). Anyway, I’m here !!

Last night my taxi from the airport, took me over the Red River using the mesmerisingly illuminated, multi-spanned Nhat Tan Bridge (a mere 16.7 million colourful lights changing shade) – quite an entrance into the city.

Spent a cloudy and drizzly Friday roaming around historical sites…as you do. Firstly though a coffee, and discovered Dream Beans Coffee Roastery on my walk. Family-run, passionate about coffee, and have choosen a Son La (north west region of Vietnam) bean, as the shop’s signature bean – delicious brew.

Sauntered by Lenin Park on my way to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage site – home to the Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties between the 11th and early 20th C, the centre of political power for more than 1300 years. I took a range of photos – of the remaining buildings, decorative features onsite, but also of locals who were celebrating graduations, using the old backdrop of buildings to enhance their modelling portfolios or cycling past with their goods to sell.

I decided to grab a taxi to the next historical site…and accessed the “Grab App” :), (the equivalent of Uber in Vietnam), its really efficient and cheap!

The Temple of Literature was delightful – sweeping gardens, ornamental lake, bonsai’d trees, pavilions, statutes and temple – built in the 11C by the Ly dynasty, in dedication to Confucius, sages and scholars. It was also the first site of the national University.