We all woke up barely in time for our complimentary breakfast, which ended at 9:30AM. Mommy and Sonny's Room 703 ($35/night) were just up the steps from me and Bowie's Room 602 ($45/night). Our room rates were discounted because Anh Hung travels to Hanoi about 1-2 times a week for work and he booked it for us. Anh Hung joined us later in his own Room 601. Our hotel is called The Golden Lake Hotel. It's a high-end hotel.
After breakfast, us four took a casual stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), stopping at the bank to withdrawal and exchange money, to eat panini's, pho at Pho24, take pictures, shop, sightsee, use the bathroom, purchase water puppet tickets, tour the Ngoc Son temple, and more shopping.
Inside our hotel's brochure.
Hoan Kiem Lake.
Waiting for Bowie to withdrawal money.
Some clock on the southern end of the lake.
Across the street on the east side of the lake.
East side view looking towards the lake.
Water puppet show schedule.
Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.
Entrance to Ngoc Son Temple.
Inside Ngoc Son Temple.
The only shop inside Ngoc Son Temple.
We got back to the hotel around 2:00PM, the time which Anh Hung was suppose to meet us. He was running a little late so while the others rested, I walked to the VIB Bank branch nearby and asked for the missing wallet person's phone number. The nice lady gave it to me and I called the number on the spot and the girl picked up. She was pretty happy to hear the news. It turns out though, she's already back in Saigon. I told her I'll be there on Thursday and we can meet up then. She agreed.
I get back to the hotel and Anh Hung is already there. He takes me and Bowie to Tran Quoc Temple of Pagodas. Sonny and Mommy decides to nap.
Distant view of the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi.
Tran Quoc Pagoda entrance.
A look down Thanh Nien street.
Inside Tran Quoc Pagoda temple.
Look closely and you'll see a dude fishing with a net.
I'm not sure what this guy was doing.
Trying to catch a taxi.
We get back to the hotel around 5:00PM to get Sonny and Mommy to go eat. Our dinner arrangements was at 6:00PM. We get there at 5:45PM and there's nobody there and all the food trays aren't even out yet. Kung, Anh Hung's friend from college joined us. The place was called Sen Nam Thanh. It's an all you can eat buffet ($18/person). This is baller's status in Vietnam. The best buffet I've ever eaten. Fresh. It probably helped that we got there when the food was hot. After the buffet, we went over to Thang Long Theatre to watch the water puppet show. The music was very traditional and pretty good. The puppets were decent. The vocals from the actors and actresses were outstanding. The show was only 45 minutes long though. I would buy the soundtrack if they had one.
Gametime.
Oc.
The dude on the right is Kung.
The streets of Hanoi. Cracking.After the show, we went home and crashed.
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