How to waste time in Hanoi

There are some cities out there are better then others when it comes to doing nothing yet experiencing everything. The first step to successfully doing this is to find a group of cool, interesting people: check!

Next step is to give yourself a mission. Our mission: find North Face jackets for everyone. Depending on the group dynamics the mission can either be completed straight away or simply be a constant target that is only reached towards the very end of your stay. For us there was the aim to find a place where 5 people managed to find a jacket each so that we could barter down the price. Now, for 5 people to all find a jacket in the same store is near impossible.

If your group is anything like us, easily distracted, you end up everywhere but in the jacket stores. For example, we stopped for food wherever possible. A nice Pho noodle soup for lunch.

A sandwich from a lady on a street corner as an afternoon snack whilst wearing traditional Vietnamese hats.

Followed by book shopping from a mobile library in a box on a scooter!

All made with a smile and with the final destination: the rooftop at the hostel where free beer and popcorn was waiting for us!

The next day: repeat! I loved Hanoi even though I technically didn't see or do much other than eat, chat and walk around this beautiful town. But I did it all with some amazing people, whom Hanoi simply wouldn't have been the same without!