The first thing that hits you about Hanoi is the traffic. That is... if you're unlucky. It is bedlam. There appears to be none of that left, right side of the road nonsense, nor does the concept of 'give way' seem to have been invented either. It is every man, woman, motor cycle or bicycle for themselves, and as for pedestrians... take your chance. The incredible thing is we haven't seen a single accident in two days. Quite amazing. I thought Marrakech was about the most dangerous place I'd ever seen to drive in, but given a choice between there and Hanoi... there isn't a choice.

Today, after a brief visit to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, it was off to Koto for lunch. Koto is a project aimed at taking street kids and teaching them the catering trade. It is an incredible thing to see. Their restaurant is fabulous, and Steve (Our Man in Hanoi) who gave me so much advice about getting here, should rightly puff out his chest on this one. Just read this.... and this.... if you want to know why. The staff were great and I took some photographs of them looking so proud that I will send to Steve to remind him of just how brilliant they are and what a legacy he has left to Vietnam.

Tomorrow evening we head off to the mountains near the Chinese border and I doubt the eco-lodges we are staying in will have an internet connection, so unless I can post in the morning, it may be the weekend before I can blog again.