Joseph in Asia (part 12)
With VietJet Air we fly from Danang to Hanoi in a good hour. At the last check before boarding, we are given a face mask that we are obliged to wear on the plane.
Arriving in the capital of Vietnam, we look a bit disappointed given the temperature difference that we personally experience. It is foggy and only 20 degrees Celsius, so more than 10 degrees less than what we were used to until now.
Thailand blog
Part 7 of the travel description contained a response from René Wouters, who had stayed in Hanoi in the 'La Beaute de Hanoi' hotel and gave two more tips regarding restaurants. Looking at the hotel's site, we were pleasantly surprised and decided to start with a reservation for 4 nights. The taxi driver took us there from the airport flawlessly. But it was a bit of a shock when we entered the narrow unsightly alley where the hotel is located in the old part of the city near Hoan Kiem Lake. However, we were very nicely received with a cup of cinnamon tea and were more than surprised to see the neat restaurant and the tastefully decorated room, not to mention the very reasonable price. A French interior designer has had a hand in it and delivered beautiful work down to the finest detail. Especially for a relatively small hotel. So you see that readers of the blog can give good advice. Thanks Rene!
But then comes the disillusionment. The manager comes to our table and tells us that the hotel will be closed for three months the day after tomorrow due to a government measure. We can stay two nights and then use the nearby 'La Castela' hotel which belongs to the same chain. When we googled later in the room and read the excellent reviews, we are reassured. We'll see the day after tomorrow.
It's quiet in the city and most people wear face masks. When we walk to our favorite Polite & Co pub near Hoan Kiem Lake, this and many other establishments appear to be closed until further notice due to the corona virus. It is foggy and the beautiful lake is shrouded in mist. It seems that nature is sad and shows pity for the population.
Also in the Green Tangerine the cook apparently is not having his day and we get a leg of lamb on the table that looks more like a tasteless meatball and has simmered for hours. We walk towards the hotel and hope that the sun will shine again tomorrow, but given the weather forecast we are not too confident.
Today we take a walk and visit the Trang Tien Plaza exclusive department store located at the end of the beautiful lake.
Before entering, the doorman takes our temperature, we have to disinfect our hands and wear masks inside. The number of visitors can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The weather is still somewhat drizzly and a layer of mist hangs over the lake. The famous bridge at the lake is closed to visitors and people everywhere wear face masks. From a positive point of view, the weather is great for frequently setting up the camera. After dinner we go to the hotel and it looks like Hanoi is dead at 10 pm.
Still, we have the feeling that given the atmosphere with many closures of shops, hotels, restaurants and further entertainment venues, we no longer really enjoy the trip. Although Vietnam is a wonderful country and the people are extremely friendly, we still decide to fly to Bangkok the day after tomorrow and try to advance the KLM flight home, which is scheduled for April 4.
It remains to be seen how it will all turn out.
Dear Joseph, I was in Hanoi and Vietnam in 2014 and it was very pleasant for me, it is a pity that the corona virus is so prevalent in the world, I sincerely hope that you can come back to the Netherlands.
I just received the message from Eva air that the flight of April 23, with which my wife's daughter would come to the Netherlands on holiday, has already been cancelled.
good luck with the return trip.
haha Joseph,
Do you remember? Few weeks ago in Chiangmai. Of course the C virus is also responsible for this.
I told you 20 yrs ago I also thought that Hanoi is dead after 23pm. Saigon, on the other hand, was a party town.
Just keep enjoying!
As a loyal reader of your travel reports, I did not miss this episode either. In my opinion, a wise decision to break off the trip through Vietnam early. Given the other posts on Thailandblog I hope you can still enter Thailand the day after tomorrow. And I also hope that you can advance the KLM flight to the Netherlands. These are uncertain times, hundreds of thousands of Dutch and Belgian holidaymakers are now stranded worldwide and have to wait and see when they can go home again. KLM and EVA are flying from Bangkok to Amsterdam today according to schedule and will land at Schiphol within a few hours. There is a friendly Thai couple in EVA's aircraft and I am very reassured when I can greet them tonight. Good luck Joseph!
Dear Joseph,
I mean it: come home as soon as possible.
My sister is stuck in Spain. No airline wants to return non-outbound passengers unless there are excess seats in the flight.
Our neighbor comes head over heels from China. Flights from some corona countries are simply refused in certain parts of China. Paid 50% extra for his flight.
After the harrowing images from Italy, people still do not understand that it is really serious.
Don't believe the comforting myths told by irresponsible governments.
Come home Joseph, we want to read your fascinating travel stories next year!
Success.
Dear Joseph,
Thanks for your travelogues, always nice to read how someone experiences the country I love.
Everyone wants to be at home naturally. If that does not work, you are much safer in Vietnam than in Thailand. Vietnam is strict with regard to corona measures. But the country has hardly any infections. I would like to trade with you. I will no longer enter Vietnam and try not to get infected in Thailand.
Can you also look at it this way (?), When it became clear in Wuhan what was going on, everyone wanted to leave and was advised to stay far away from there.
Now Europe is the new Wuhan (already more deaths than in China) and yet many people do their utmost to get to Europe.
Isn't that contradictory?
Wishing you wisdom and success in any case!!