You are standing at a junction in Hanoi, any junction trying to fugure out if you are going right or left trough the endless, colorful, loud and fast wall of traffic coming from all directions while you are trying to be at least a little polite in your rejection to the dozens of Cyclo and moto drivers honking, yelling and doing whatever possible to get your attention, you suddenly realize that a little boy has knelt in front of you and started shining your shoes in his attempt to make a coupple of thousand vietnamese dong.
Hanoi is a crazy city.

When you walk in Hanoi you have to share the streets with the millions of vehicles because the sidewalks are filled up with motos, shops, platns, sellers, trash, hairdressers and shoeshiners.
In the morning Lots of women come from their homes with the traditional wooden yoke across their shoulders. Balanced on one side is a pot of steaming soup. On the other is a pail filled with bowls, spoons, a little coal burner, small plastic chairs and a folding table. They pick their spot for the day, set up their supplies and voila they’re in business.

Hanoi is built in a facinating way.. if i remember correct, when they bought land here to build a house they payed per meter of sidewalk that they occupied. Which has had given the city an interesting result. Many of the houses have only a 2 metre facade but they actually strech 15-30 metres in towards the centre of the block..
Perfect if you want to find hidden treassures in the long deep narrow streets and alleyways.