The food and Bella's shopping trip

The weather was colder than some of us had prepared for and Bella (middle) (claimed she was given bad advice about bringing cold weather gear) was forced to supplement her windbreaker. (Actual temperatures have been ~50 but feels colder due to perpetual mist.(actually probably similar to southern US (save Florida) this time of year. Du, our guide in Hanoi (excellent knowledge and personality but occaisionally difficult to understand his english pronounciation) is standing behind Bella and her fashionista advisors.Recognizing her fashion demands he brought us to the Century 21 of Hanoi.  She was able to rapidly sift through the wide selection and picked a striking black lined jacket (a dead ringer for an Obermeyer) for ~600,000 dong (probably mispelled) or $35.

After our visit to the Ethnology museum, Du brought us to the museum restaurant. Beats most I've been to in US (save MOMA and Lauder's) but I doubt you can get Pho seen above there. It was a meal in itself and cost a little more than $1. Made a pig of myself and ordered Bahn mi chicken sandwich -bread was superb, so far most food (soups, sandwiches contains a lot of fresh vegetables and herbs).

Next we took cyclo (bicycle powered rickshaws-similar to those in NYC but powered by a bicycle that should have had training wheels) We mixed right in with the teeming rush hour traffic. I felt like we were riding down the FDR @5pm. We arrived just in time to see a show at the Water Puppet Playhouse (amazing that they can get puppets to move in the water in any direction using poles held by marionette who stands waist deep in the water behing curtain) but the plot is a little thin.

After all that work it was dinner time. We went to Cha ca la vuong (world famous for its pan fried fish) Only thing on the menu except for beverages. With our great communication skills we made it clear that we needed food for four (including Bia Hanoi). You are each given a bowl of rice noodles, peanuts, herbs (coriander, dill) and sauce to share. The server brings in fish (? pike) which is cooked on a gas grill at your table, greens (scallions) are added and there you have it. I would give it 3stars for the experience 2 for the food.
           Tomorrow we take a trip to the country.