Asia 2019 - Dubai and Day 1in Vietnam

September 28/29 2019

Southeast Asia trip

As I did my weekly search for cheap airfare back in February and finally hit the jackpot for my next Asian Adventure. Using Emirates Airlines configuration tool, I secured a round trip to Hanoi for less than $1000. I would finally get to Vietnam and would also venture to Cambodia. Even thought there are about 80 countries left that I’ve not been to, the list of must sees are much fewer. This trip would certainly be significant moving forward. We would have a layover in Dubai, long enough to go into town for a short visit. After my dramatic/traumatic experience with the UAE in 2015, a better experience would be nice.

I’d put it out there to Naitro, my travel partner through New Zealand, Costa Rica, Belize, along with LaTrice who we shared the adventure of my 50th birthday trek through Peru. LaTrice bought her ticket very soon with Naitro committed but would not be able to join in the end…she couldn’t get the time off.

LaTrice flew from Atlanta to Boston to meet me for our journey. I arrived at the airport very early but the lengthy check in left me with barely 30 minutes to connect with her before we boarded the plane. It was so good to see her…and away we went.

I had booked a premium seat with extra legroom so that I could be comfy and get enough sleep during the 12.5 hour flight. It wasn’t bad…sleep found me and I was pretty ok for my time in Dubai.

Arrival brought us to a cavernous, ostentatious, shopping center with planes. It’s not that I would expect any less. It was a very nice place…just repetitious goods for sale as duty free shops were like starbucks here, one on every block. The terminal was empty…like really empty.

I’d done the research and wanted to be fresh after the long flight. Also, the layover and flight to Hanoi would present at least 17 hours before we’d be driving in Hanoi. The G Force Health Club, in the Dubai International Hotel was reviewed very well so, it was the shower of choice. For $15 we had a private bathroom with shower (rain head and hand shower). There was a vanity ( no toilet ) and a full compliment of toiletries. The water was hot and I left refreshed.

I returned to the waiting room and soon Latrice was walking in with clothing purchased from shops below. She was racing by…”I’ll only be a few”.

I hadn’t initially planned on leaving the airport during our layover in Dubai but LaTrice wanted to go into town and see…what there was to be seen. I determined that we could take an Uber to the Burj ( palace area) and have a walk around and also an evening meal.

Immigration was quick and painless, thank you Dubai. I called for an Uber during our walk out of the terminal and he eventually showed up.

The 20 minute drive was a whir of malls and high rise buildings to get us to our stopping point. I was trying to get to the waterfront along the water feature in front of the Burj ( tallest building in the world). I was trying to get that point across to the driver but even though he didn’t seem to understand, where we agreed upon was perfect. The Palace ( a hotel ) was right on the water front…perfect.

We had an immediate view of this amazing feat of engineering. It was much more impressive than I’d expected…WOW. We’d started taking a few pictures and all of a sudden, the whole building lit up like a TV screen. There was a series of images that was a treat for the eyes. It was like video games and Christmas all rolled into one.

There was a restaurant on the waterfront and fortunately for us, a good one. Others were well dressed but all I can say is…we could pay. We were served well and the food was great.

After, we walked around the pool, cabanas, and continued around the pond. It was very very hot…low humidity but it was so hot it was causing LaTrice problems with camera lens fog up.

A quick Uber back, easy security process and we were back in the terminal. Soon it was time to board our flight to Hanoi, 8 hours. Oh…I’d forgotten to mention the food on the plane. I’d chosen a special meal for the flights. The only trouble is the options that I had to choose from. I’d settled on raw vegetarian as the others were just not right for me but…this was only raw vegetables. YUK.

Arrival in Hanoi was met with many challenges. We were denied “visa upon arrival” as we were to have an approval letter. Our host didn’t inform us of that requirement. My search had me expecting visa upon arrival but not with such prerequisites. Our host in Cambodia had provided proper information that the one in Hanoi did not.

Anyway, after being denied, there was a travel agent that “happened” to be there to provide her services for $140 additional to the visa fee. We had no choice as this was obviously a racket. The lady in front of us had the same difficulty and she’d come to Vietnam many times. With all of this sorted we headed through immigration and to claim our bags.

To make this long story short, LaTrice’s bag wasn’t there. When we approached the lost and found desk they were already working on her claim as the bag had never left Atlanta. UGH. We gave them our address in Hanoi along with our aggressive itinerary for Vietnam. We wouldn’t be anywhere for more than one day at a time. She asked that they just hold the bag at the airport…one they got it.

Our driver had waited for us all this time. I’d kept the host informed so we didn’t have to wait once we were through. Off we went…finally on our way into Hanoi.

It was a 30 minute ride from the airport. Hanoi’s outskirts are filled with new modern, very tall social housing…massive amounts of it. Also, this is a land of scooters. It’s a poor country and with scooters being cheap and their fuel usage low…perfect. The only thing is people who drive scooters are crazy. They are on the phone, with a baby in front, and holding a grocery bag. It’s like Amsterdam but scooter instead of bicycle.

Entering the old town part of Hanoi, where our apartment was, it really seemed to be devoid of unique character. It was just block construction and large signage. It looked like Chinatown in any American city. This was a bit disappointing but Hanoi was not the focus of our time in Vietnam.

We arrived at the apartment and met our host. She was quite friendly and helped with bags as we climbed the four flights of narrow, steep stairs. I thought LT would kill me. She did survive though.

The room was as pictured, spacious and comfortable. We settled up the bill for the Halong Bay trip that she’d booked and then got some tips on things in the area.

We explained our clothing dilemma and she told us to go to the night market. Our meal was an easy, quick one at the local backpacker hang out. I had grilled cheese and french fries. My stomach was fine…just what i wanted.

Around the corner from the apartment, we stopped into an art gallery. They had quite varied styles being showcased…some quite interesting. LT found a painting in a soft green with a Vietnamese lady seated, from the back. It spoke to her and with a small negotiation, she had purchased art…no clothes yet but art. That’s how it goes.

After that, we roamed the streets of Hanoi looking for shorts, pants, shirts, and a piece of luggage as LT had none. Everything super cheap in quality but also in price so she bought some “Asian” prints and spent not even $20 for 2 pants, 2 shorts, 2 shirts, and luggage. It would prove to all be crap “single use clothing” but it got her through to being able to buy a new set for the next day. It seemed like we’d walked for miles…the same clothes over and over …I was tired of walking and tired of the view. Finished…we walked back. It was still hungry but no real options as this was not an area for tourists…locals mostly. The options were limited. Food being served from a cart on the corner on being eaten seated on the ground near the sidewalk, that’s what we had for options. I did find a little desert shop where I bought a chocolate tart. It was tiny and caused me heartburn but…it was tasty.

Back in the room, I removed my shoes to find very swollen feet. It had been an epic journey to get here. I hoped to calm down, relax and get a bit of rest before the mornings adventure to Halong Bay…so excited.