Last breakfast in Mai Chau
After a sad farewell to the wonderful people of Mai Chau and several hours on the (air conditioned) bus, we arrived back in busy Hanoi. We couldn’t have asked for a better welcome as our guide ushered us into a pizzeria for lunch. Multiple pizzas and plates of pasta later, we were absolutely stuffed and ready to begin the afternoon’s adventures.
We visited the “Hanoi Hilton” prison museum to see what it was like to be held captive there. The prison has been used to hold many different convicts over the years, and different sections of the museum showed us what the conditions were like in each. Quite a few of us were a little apprehensive, as many people died within its heavily guarded walls. We left enlightened to a darker side of Vietnam’s past, and once we had freshened up, our mood only increased. 
After a delicious Vietnamese dinner,we stepped outside onto the darkened streets, and were greeted by the glowing stalls of the night markets, where we bought plenty of goodies at a bargain price (and some presents!). After another good day in Hanoi, and plenty of purchases, we prepare to leave to another beautiful city tomorrow.
– Faye and Nicole