We are not at the JW anymore...

My hotel room in Hanoi smells a bit like pee...

But I also just paid 50 cents for a beer.

Guess you win some and lose some...go with the flow. That goes for traffic as well, many motorbikes and cars, not so much on the lanes and traffic lights. We almost got taken out by a motorbike but you really have to just commit and go for it -- luckily my time in India has prepared me well for this type of situation.

Hanoi is certainly a developing city, closer to India, whereas Bangkok was certainly closer to the US. There is still a huge French influence here and we are staying in the French Quarter...around the corner from Gucci and Hermes and the Meteropole Sofitel, nicest hotel in the city and definitely reminds of New Orleans and Paris! All a few blocks from the Old Quarter which is pure Vietnam and pure Asia - like two different worlds! Hanoi is celebrating its 1,000 year anniversary this month so there is lots of buzz about that. At the center of a city is a beautiful lake, will post some pics soon.

We are having productive meetings (albeit slightly adversarial with the Vietnamese) and have been working a lot in a ex-pat coffee shop filled with people working for the UN or other organizations. My stomach has not been totally agreeing with the food here and I have been pure vegetarian (they eat dog here and have no problem hanging various meat products from restaurant windows or gutting chickens in the street...). My colleague on the other hand "experiences culture through food" and is all about trying the dog. I have asked him to do that when he is not with me! Eeeew.