Hanoi - the Hen and the Chicks

Not so long ago, a Deejay, with her entourage of a mommy, a singer, a model, a night-time golf instructor and a socialite took a trip to Hanoi.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam located at her north. In the words of the Lonely Planet "The capital of Vietnam is a city of timeless grace, a grand old dame of Aisa who is ageing better than most of her contemporaries. Hanoi lay in a deep slumber after Vietnam's partition in 1954, until the effects of economic reforms began to kick in four decades later. THe city and its inhabitants survived American bombs and Russian planners to emerge relatively unscathed in the early 1990s as a superb example of a French colonial city. Hanoi's centre today is a quixotic blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony and its history, rather than bulldozing through it like many of the region's capitals."

Our stay was at the Melia Hotel, right at the fringe of the Old Quarter. The bustling and lively Old Quarter is a area of 36 streets, traditionally with each street having a different trade or product on sale. Today, the Old Quarter is abuzz with activity and opportunities to blow your tourist dollar at almost every step you take.

An evesdropped compliment on his beautiful eyes and a right guess on his nationality by ally & lis probably resulted in an upgrade to suites for all of us! Well done! Happiness is ... having a luxurious suite to come 'home' to for 4 days!