This would be my first trip to Vietnam, to Hanoi, to accompany my client for five days training.
The night before, I didn't have my sleep cos it was 11 PM and I had to wake up at 2 AM, so I just went online.I departed from Jakarta on Sept 6, 2009, using SQ, at 6.15 AM. It was very early in the morning because I arrived at the airport at 4.15 AM! It was raining. Together with my 4 clients, we started the journey.
We transited in Singapore (8.15 AM Jakarta time, and departed to Hanoi at 10 AM Singapore time). It was still raining in Singapore.After we boarded in the plane, we waited quite sometime because one of the engine had a problem. They tried to fix it, but after that they decided to change the aircraft. Our flight was delayed for 3 hours due to that.We moved to another gate (from E28 to F59, it was far!), SQ provided refreshment but I couldn't eat it because I'm fasting! I called up Hanoi Horison Hotel to reschedule hotel pick up at the airport.It was tiring, maybe because of last night and also my back started to hurt again. I carried the backpack containing my heavy office laptop here and there.
I slept all the way through in the plane. Didn't listen to music or watch movies, or enjoy the food. We landed in Hanoi airport at 3.15 PM.
The driver from hotel was already there. We exchanged our money and bought SIM card for our mobile phones first. The money exchanger didn't accept my Indonesian Rupiah. The exchange rate was USD 1 = VND 17,818.The VinaPhone SIM card cost VND 300,000, includes new mobile number and the credit for international call, local call and local text message.
It took 1.5 hours from airport to our hotel. You can see rice field surrounding the area of airport.
We stayed at Hanoi Horison Hotel. Rate per night: USD 119 nett. I asked to hotel staff whether I can exchange my IDR there, I received same answer: not accepted! Oh man, what am I gonna do with IDR 2 million?
The hotel staff said they prefer to receive USD due to lots of zeros in their money. It made me smile :)
We refreshed ourselves: took a bath, change cloth, broke our fasting. Last night I managed to browsed restaurants that provide halal food. I took my clients to Nisa restaurant for dinner. It's located at 90 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem. it serves Malaysian food and Indian food. Total cost: VND 645,000.
I used van taxi which can accommodate 6 people. The steer is at the left. They can give us receipt.
Went back to hotel to take a rest, get ready for tomorrow.
The best thing of this hotel is that they provide sahur menu. We asked them to serve the meal at 3.30 AM.
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