Sky High in Hanoi

Today is our last day in Hanoi and our last day in Vietnam so we got an early start wrapping up on any last minute stops we hadn't gotten to yet.  While we started our day in the Old Quarter, we quickly left to the more developed part of the city which we hadn't gone to yet.  We headed over to the Lotte Center to go to the Observation Tower and Sky Deck on the 65th floor.  While the elevator was very smooth, you could tell it was going really fast.  And before we knew it, we were there.  We got there right when they opened and it was a weekday which meant that admission was reduced and there wasn't a soul around which made it much easier to take pics.  I can't imagine how crazy it would get on a weekend.   

  

After checking out the SkyDeck, we explored the large grocery store in the Lotte Center and got fun food souvenirs to take home.  We then made some quick stops at other tourist attractions like Bach Ma Temple and the Temple of Literature

 

Afterwards we headed over to the Sofitel Hotel for afternoon tea.  It was a nice reprieve from the heat and I'm always down for a good tea experience.  But for a little Vietnamese twist, I decided to get an "egg coffee" instead of tea.  I had been wanting to try it because it was a Hanoi specialty and boy was it delicious!  I was sad I hadn't tried one sooner.  Since it's been so hot, we've been getting the infamous Vietnamese iced coffee (with condensed milk) rather than any hot drinks and while I wasn't in the mood for something hot, the egg coffee was amazing and I was so glad I finally tried it!  It is made with condensed milk and egg yolks which makes is super creamy and rich.  

Afterwards we headed back to the Old Quarter to go to the Thang Long Water Pupper Theatre.  So I had read it was a kind of a silly tourist trap but for $4 a ticket, I figured what the heck, might as well check it out.  Well it was definitely a tourist trip and super cheesy but mildly entertaining.

 

After that, it was time for a quick bite to eat.  We got some meat skewers on the street but also stopped into a random restaurant for some pho and Vietnamese steak and eggs (not as good as the one we love in Houston) before packing up and heading to the airport.  We've had such an amazing time in Vietnam and will definitely miss all of the amazing food and incredibly cheap prices.  One thing we won't miss: the humidity!