Chris and I came back from Haiphong to Hanoi on Sunday night and checked into a cheap hotel in the Old Quarter, not too far from the hostel that we stayed a few days before. I didn’t do too much in terms of sightseeing in Hanoi except on the second to last day Chris and I went to see the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, also known as Hanoi Hilton.

On Monday, I went on two dates. I liked the girl I met in the morning and I enjoyed the conversation I had with the girl I met in the afternoon, but there was no romantic spark. I had a homemade dinner at the woman’s penthouse apartment and enjoyed the view of the city while having the meal.

The next day, I had a second date with the same girl I met the previous morning. We walked around Old Quarter and had drinks near St. Joseph Cathedral. We then went for lunch. She was basically my tour guide. I think it’s hard to find someone long term because I’m traveling and my date felt that, too. We decided to be friends even though I thought we had potential.

Yesterday, Chris and I had the best Vietnamese meal in Hanoi at a restaurant called Met before we took the Grab taxi to the airport. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) at night. We checked into separate hostels this time.

View of southeast Hanoi from a penthouse apartment

A fish seller in Hanoi

One of five old gates of Hanoi

Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Inside Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Wall carvings inside Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Delicious spring rolls

Grilled chicken in bamboo