Going to a city to live for a few months is always an interesting exercise as you ponder questions such as what will the food be like? Before you arrive you have no real idea of what to expect and so we all stocked up on a few basics in Hanoi! After all, I reasoned to myself as I carried overloaded supermarket bags back to my Hanoi Hotel, "I'm not sure if I'll be able to get muesli there"!However, we (I'd roped the other two teachers into my supermarket frenzy) had no need to worry at all because Hai Phong has several excellent supermarkets selling local
goods. There is also a limited supply of western food so all is well!
Most of the teachers here stay at the one hotel - even those who are on one year contracts. It's a great life as I go to work and when I come back (home?), my bed has been made and I have fresh towels hanging on the bathroom rail. What more could a gal ask for?
The longer standing teachers have also given us many tips of where to eat which has been really great and I now have a few "favs". One restaurant is on the 12th floor of a bank building. You would never know its there as there is no sign outside and even when you get into the lift there is nothing to indicate which floor. It has a marvellous view of Hai Phong and excellent food - Western and Vietnamese.
Here are a few photos taken from my hotel balcony. It's an ever changing and most interesting view. I spend hours watching the street scene unfold before me. Notice my wonderful world map coffee mug (bought in Singapore) sitting on the rail.
I've also posted a couple of articles on
HubPages. This first one is on Vietnamese food.
The second one is a favourite of mine - The Old Quarter in Hanoi where the 1000 year old streets still have some of the ancient trades doing business there. Its a really fascinating wander through this area. I hope you enjoy it.
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