Hanoi
I’ve written before that I’m never that blown away by capital cities. The pattern continued with Hanoi. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely city and has great food (bun cha Hanoi is a speciality, but I also enjoyed pho and falafel here), great coffee, lovely architecture, all the grandeur you expect from a capital (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, presidential palace, a lovely lake) and a unique sight in train street, a narrow train track lined with restaurants and cafes that move their tables aside each time a train passes. It was perfectly pleasant to be in, but I just didn’t feel that excited by Hanoi at any point.
Perhaps Hanoi gets an unfair review though - recently I’ve been feeling some travel burnout. Long term travel is tough and tiring, and the beautiful and interesting moments that pull you through at the start are never going to be as strong after a few months of new experiences. I’m feeling a little exhausted, lacking energy and excitement for the places I’m visiting at the moment. I’m doing ok though, and I’m confident that with a little more rest (and maybe a little Netflix) added to my schedule I’ll get back in to my travel groove soon.