Leg 4 to Hanoi

I don't think anything was going to prepare us for the day ahead when we woke up in the hotel in Singapore around 7am. All of us had recovered from the inevitable jetlag incurred a day or so before and were adjusting well to the new time zones.

After a cooked breakfast of noodles, eggs, hash browns, sausages and beans, our airport taxi arrived to transport us on to our next adventure. And what an adventure that would turn out to be!

The 3 hours flight went without incident arriving 20 mins early, and yet again Singapore Airlines excelled with their service on one of their brand new Boeing 777s.

After a soft landing into Hanoi, we could already tell that we were in a completely different atmosphere to Singapore. The wall of heat and humidity hit us immediately after getting off the aircraft.

The first challenge (and something that was worrying us a little) was that we had four days of our visas left. I must admit it was a bit nerve racking when the immigration official called both myself and Malcom back to 'have a word'. However to our surprise we emerged with automatically extended visas to the end of the month, as did the rest of the team!

After collecting our baggage from the achingly slow baggage carousel and being waved through customs, we walked out to be met by a man with a minibus and an even fiercer wall of heat!

Crammed in the mini bus for the 30km drive into Hanoi, the first thing you noticed was that even though lanes were marked on the tarmac, the traffic didn't notice! Horns blared impatiently and lights flashed as we rolled along the duel carriageway, ducking in and out of lorries and buses, with mopeds buzzing around us like insects in the heat.

Imagine our horror then, as we approached a roundabout where traffic just approached from all direction kamikaze style. We hoped and prayed, and somehow managed to make it past a large lorry coming at us from sideways.

Scenery changed dramatically from green paddy fields into block housing as we entered the suburbs of Hanoi. People were selling meat, vegetables and fruit from makeshift stalls at the side of the road, bathing in the already searing 35 degree heat of the day.

Then the minibus hit central Hanoi. Chaos ensued as suddenly mopeds started flying from all directions. The sound of a hundred different horns filled the air as we negotiated our way down endless streets lined with shops selling just about every mass production commodity known to man!

At the hotel, we were greeted by some very excited owners who welcomed us very warmly. Our bags were taken by the army of staff up the six flights of stairs, and as we climbed ever higher, stepping around the workmen, it emerged that the hotel was still being built! The lift was being finished and there wasn't even a roof!!! Nevertheless we are the first to stay in our rooms and they are fantastic quality.

After some time to relax, it was then that we met up with Ian and Rachel Foston, so nearly completing our Leg 4 group (just Mel to go!)

A short walk around the corner took us to the Hoan Kien Lake, where we all sat back with our drinks and ice creams, took in the view across the water and toasted to the safe passage of Leg 3 and the start of Leg 4. It was fantastic to eventually meet the Fostons and be close to a team, and immediately it was apparent that this was going to be a team that pulled together and got on well.

A short walk around the lake took us to the Ngoc Sun Temple. This temple was to a General who's philosophy in the civil war was to 'tire out the enemy', making them surrender to superior firepower. This is now a philosophy used in modern warfare.

And so into Hanoi. The first challenge was crossing the road. The trick is to cross and no matter what is flying around you, keep walking and do not stop. And sure enough, it worked! Mopeds just buzzed around us as if we weren't there, buses gave way and taxis halted impatiently (don't try that at home kids).

The walk to our restaurant took us through some breathtaking markets. It was possible to buy anything and everything- fresh fish, vegetables, meat, coffee, clothes, books, art. The choice was simply staggering and too much to take in at times.

The Little Hanoi Restaurant served us some tasty dishes of beef, chicken, tofu and catfish. Imagine our amazement when a meal for nine with drinks came to just GBP8!

Another walk back through the market took us back to our hotels for a well earned rest and drinks. It's fair to say that none of us have quite experienced anything like Hanoi before! Roll on tomorrow!