Hanoi old quarter, morning

We stayed in Hanoi after returning from Ha Long, in a hotel in the old quarter. This is the view from the steps of the entrance, showing the exact moment I passed from the tranquility of our lodgings into the vibrant streets outside.

I've tried to capture what I love most about visiting cities in Asia: the energy, the noise, the movement. It can't capture the heat and the smells - of cooking, of drains, of flowers or smoke - so you'll have to imagine that, or remember it if you've been.

We took a tour of the old quarter, guided by a map with the notable streets marked in red. It's tiring work so we found 'bar' serving 'bia hoi' - beer made on the premises and kept in metal barrels. Delicious - and at about 30p for a large glass, cheap too.

Staying in Vietnam poses the ultimate #firstworldproblem - Hanoi or Saigon? Good job we don't have to decide.