The tourist bus arrived at Camel City Hotel, Hanoi exactly at 8.30am as arranged. Luckily I was just about last aboard and did not have to do a circuituous route to pick passengers. Often struck that when staying in the centre of large cities in order to be near the major sights, that one does not realize just how vast the total metropolis frequently is. Evidence this morning as we drove out of Hanoi, through the teeming streets and clogged arterial roads---probably over an hour till we fought free of the industrial suburbs. Hanoi is a city boasting a population of 6 million, about the same as Chicago. In all about 5 hours to cover the 150kms between hotels in Hanoi and Halong Bay on the China Sea coast.
My hotel in Halong is clean, spacious but unfortunately up a steepish road on the east side of the town---difficult to determine when one reserves books via the internet. I will have to read more attentively the user reviews. The pleasant point to ponder is that the single rate, room only, is just $23.40, 15% taxes included, total for TWO/TWO nights accommodation. I just don't understand the economics. Tomorrow will be my day to wander downtown and view the amazing limestone island formations just off the cast.
There are amazing signs of massive investment in tourist infrastructure in the area hotels, marinas etc etc. I can confidently predict that if I come back in 5 years time, I will be hardly able to recognize the place. The tourists do not seem to have arrived yet in the numbers that one could envisage, given the amazing natural attributes of the region. This could be a seasonal thing as the monsoons are supposed to be tapering off.
I have noticed in Vietnam that there is an almost total exclusion of the big international names like McD., Sheraton, Hilton...although I have seen a single unit of both KFC and Starbucks. So perhaps the trickle is commencing as this Communist nation opens up to the world. It would be my comment that the Vietnamese need much assistance building up their tourist asset to international standards. Nice to have back packers and 'gappers', but these folk don't bring too much economic sizzle with them. Not sure the government here is prepared to go the casino route per Macau, not too far from here in China.
From the bus windows I did note that we passed by massive textile factories, Canon and Foxcon. The Canon operation in particular was massive, with road frontage that could have been perhaps nearly a kilometre. Vast storage area with thousands of employee motor cycles. This country has vaulted the bicycle era and most seem now to own a scooter or moped, yes, even electronic/battery models.
My hotel in Halong is clean, spacious but unfortunately up a steepish road on the east side of the town---difficult to determine when one reserves books via the internet. I will have to read more attentively the user reviews. The pleasant point to ponder is that the single rate, room only, is just $23.40, 15% taxes included, total for TWO/TWO nights accommodation. I just don't understand the economics. Tomorrow will be my day to wander downtown and view the amazing limestone island formations just off the cast.
There are amazing signs of massive investment in tourist infrastructure in the area hotels, marinas etc etc. I can confidently predict that if I come back in 5 years time, I will be hardly able to recognize the place. The tourists do not seem to have arrived yet in the numbers that one could envisage, given the amazing natural attributes of the region. This could be a seasonal thing as the monsoons are supposed to be tapering off.
I have noticed in Vietnam that there is an almost total exclusion of the big international names like McD., Sheraton, Hilton...although I have seen a single unit of both KFC and Starbucks. So perhaps the trickle is commencing as this Communist nation opens up to the world. It would be my comment that the Vietnamese need much assistance building up their tourist asset to international standards. Nice to have back packers and 'gappers', but these folk don't bring too much economic sizzle with them. Not sure the government here is prepared to go the casino route per Macau, not too far from here in China.
From the bus windows I did note that we passed by massive textile factories, Canon and Foxcon. The Canon operation in particular was massive, with road frontage that could have been perhaps nearly a kilometre. Vast storage area with thousands of employee motor cycles. This country has vaulted the bicycle era and most seem now to own a scooter or moped, yes, even electronic/battery models.
No comments:
Post a Comment