PattayaParent

I've only been away from Ha Noi 6 months and already I've forgotten about Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh House Don't bother with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum unless you want to wait in long queues like at Disney. Opera House, check if there's a concert on Ha Noi Flag Tower and the Imperial Citadel B52 museum and B52 Lake Catholic Cathedral I echo this, I always take visitors to see it 'cos I never tire of it. Get tickets early morning for the evening shows. And remember, if it's only 3 days make it a weekend so the road around Hoan Kiem Lake is closed, there might even be an event on, there is most weekends.

I keep seeing people doing tours in ex-US Army jeeps around town if that's your thing. And there's a bar tour but not worth it, not that I've been on it, I just know the bars on it. Avoid "Drinking Street" which used to be known as Beer Hoi Corner, but you won't find cheap beer hoi there now, it's all loud, overpriced beer bars full of tourists. Oh, and there's a "hop-on, hop-off' tour bus that you can get at Hoan Kiem Lake.

If you look at BritManToo's map, Hang Hanh is the L shaped street that has 4P's Pizza on it, on the opposite side of the lake. No traffic down that street! If the budget stretches to it, Soffitel is nice, Melia has an expat bar in it, they may have even finished building the Waldorf Astoria?

Weather in HCMC much like Pattaya, Ha Noi more like Chiang Mai, so depends whether you want to be hot and humid or cool and wet. Can't say I find HCMC that interesting, or Vung Tao. Cui Chi tunnels were good and the Mekong Delta tour. Lots of good bars and restaurants where I stay in Xuan Thuy street in Thao Dien so I've not much reason to move from there.

And the best one, why do you need the shower instant hot water heater to be earthed???

Bought one of them and it doesn't fit the bolt on the kitchen sink taps, way too big.

It was a local commune clinic but the doctor works in the government hospital day time and this is his own business night times.

It was a local commune clinic but the doctor works in the government hospital day time and this is his own business night times.

It was a local commune clinic but the doctor works in the government hospital day time and this is his own business night times.

Does Mr. T still operate? I always used him for many, many years so am surprised his name has not been mentioned. And I'll need a taxi at Christmas.

Do they do it monthly again? Some years ago I had ToT internet in my flat that I was paying for monthly but as I was leaving for work for a few years I cancelled it. When I went back on my return to reconnect they would not let me pay monthly, only yearly. In fact told me that it's now company policy that farangs cannot pay monthly. I declined and went to SBN who have no problem accepting farangs that pay monthly.

I once had a so called "plumber" install two lever type taps in my bathroom to replace old ones that were leaking. I was at work and when I returned home one tap was in the correct 180 degree position and one in a 90 degree position. Told the missus to call the guy and get him back to fix it. Returned home the next day and no change. It's not possible was what the "plumber" (my arse) had told the missus. Tell her to get him out again and show him the installation instructions. No change, not possible, the drawings are wrong. She gets him back again but I'd told her how to fix the problem, just get the "plumber" (my arse) to unbolt the tap, rotate it 90 degrees herself and get the "plumber (my arse) to bolt it up again. So 4 days later I get the taps installed correctly, something which I could have done myself if I'd had the tools. There is no such thing as a plumber in Thailand.

Same happened in Bangkok 30 years ago when all taxis were made to use their meters and not make up silly prices to rip off foreigners. Only difference is it was never applied in Pattaya so they continued to rip off foreigners until Grab came along, and now Bolt. No sympathy for the taxi drivers from me, they were just plain greedy before.

There's liquids and powders that you can throw down the toilet bolw to unblock the pipework, can't remember the names but they're available in Tesco and Big-C. If that doesn't solve it you'll have to rod the pipe.

14 days? Go to Huong Pagoda, a day trip out of Ha Noi. Ninh Binh also a day trip, "Ha Long Bay on Land" Ha Long bay of course for a few days. Sa Pa When I used to stay in hotels in Ha Noi I'd find one around Hoan Kiem Lake area. Hang Hanh street has a few (Lakeside Palace, Holiday Lake View) and some nice local restaurants too, my favourite of which now seems to have been renamed Hollywood, I just hope the owners are the same when I get back there.

Go up the tower of the Lotte Department Store in central Ha Noi, not the one at West Lake, and take the VR glider ride. Good views of the city also. For a day trip out go up Fransipan mountain. Wander round the streets of the old quarter. There's a tour around the old quarter from the top end of Hoan Kiem Lake, in golf carts, not expensive. Go to the Water Puppet Show, again at the top end of HK Lake.

I've been to an ENT clinic in Ha Noi $15 for doc, scope things down my ears, treatment and meds.

It's what the old hands of Thailand were used to before Thaksin's enforcement of the immigration laws.

I have always gotten mine for free. It only allows a 6 month stay in the country.

Yes

Hotels of course depend on your budget. Hoan Kiem Lake, especially at the weekend when it's closed to traffic. The "Ha Noi Hilton" prison The Temple of Literature. Take warm clothes, it's cold in December, and an umbrella or plastic mac will come in handy too.

Viet Nam now accepts (and issues) IDPs so if you have your ASEAN license and a corresponding IDP you're good to go.

KPN Soi Town in Town, near the far end. Guy makes his own. You can get them fresh and freeze them yourself or but them ready frozen.

Are tehre any good retaurants in the area? Somewhere nice to take the missus for a night out once in a while. I only know Kanary Bay and Rainforest. Any others of that ilk?