Hue to Hanoi

The 2nd January seems to be a big day for weddings in Hue.  We went riding on our bikes and crossed paths with 5 wedding car processions and about 10 different venues all decorated with flowers, balloon arches and large photographs of the happy couple.  They love their flower decorations here, and they are very elaborate and absolutely beautiful.  The Vietnamese are very good at everything they do and they can do everything.  Unfortunately the cameras were not to hand when the flowers were going by, transported as everything is, by scooter.  We did however get a couple of shots of a wedding as they guests were leaving, you guessed it, by scooter.  All ages, all dressed up.

Bridal Car

 

 

The traditional thing here seems to be that the bridal party line up to farewell the guests

 

 



The helmet doesn't seem to mess up their hair, these ladies were happy to be photographed

 



 

 

Nothing related to weddings, this is a goldfish cart.

 

They take some interesting cargo on sleeper buses, this is a female dog in the cage with cane basket and in the plastic shopping bag are her puppies.



Our second outing on a sleeper bus was definitely better than the first one.  This time we requested specific seats and as it turned out one was good and one was not.  If I ever have to travel in one again I will know which seats to request.  We were treated to a CD viewing of a special 5 hour event that was entirely in Vietnamese but still enjoyable, at least the first time through but not as much the second time.  Thankfully they turned it off at a reasonable hour.

Sleeper Bus accommodation

 

 

Waiting for a taxi to take our two bikes and bags to the bus company's hotel.  Complimentary because the bus didn't take us there.

 



Arrived safely in Hanoi, right on time. Traversed the usual - hawkers, pedicabs, taxis, hotel staff.  One good thing about hotels here is that they all have free WIFI and if you shop around a bit you can usually get a good one for a reasonable price.