So hard to buy ticket from Hanoi to Nanning

 Today Hanoi weather turn cold suddenly. It drops from morning 30 degree to 22 degree. No sunlight and cloudy with light rain showering 90%. We heard from Tracy that it was due to middle Vietnam storm and will last 2 days before weather getting back to usual.

Today is quite frustrating with the only task we set for the day. The booking of bus ticket from Hanoi to Nanning cost 800k per person from APAC Travel 55 Tran Khat Chan street. As we are informed that the train servicing to Nanning had been suspended for a long time and the only way to Nanning will be taking bus. We was directed to pay online for the bus ticket and we decided to ride down to office to pay in cash as we are very sensitive to online payment from unknown source. We went to at 12 and was inform that they are out for lunch till 2pm. So we went to eat lunch and wait till 2pm and they are still closed. Tracy then helped us to call the owner and we are told that Sunday they do not open. WTH.

So we basically wasted a lot of time and we decided to meet Tracy earlier to return her bike to her. Then Tracy convinced us to not book for the tour agency and will instead take private bus to the custom of Vietnam for 300k each and then we clear customer and take a taxi or bus to Nanning. 

As we know that we are not going to get a China phone number that mean that we are confine to a lot of restriction in China. Most payment, taxi hailing and hotel booking will need us to use WeChat and need us to get OTP from a registered China line and no we now no longer can just buy a throw away SIM card as a tourist. We need to buy post paid card which doesn’t make sense for us as we are only travelling 2 weeks.

So Jackie suggested from XHS that we can prepare touch and go and Alipay to try, well that certainly will increase the difficult as China do not use much cash anymore. But okie tomorrow I will update the adventage to see if we are able to live comfortably in china without carry any cash over.

Last dinner with Tracy to thanks her for the bike and the tofu is so so nice and I want to use it as my dish in the future if I do cook at home. I will miss Hanoi endless free flow of vegetable.

Money clip handmade finally over with idea to pay forward

Yesterday we finished the wallet half way. In the morning I look grumpy and stress. Whole day I don’t smile or don’t respond to joke in Mai studio. Jackie came asking what happened. I didn’t realise but I am stressed that I am not able to work on the wallet. I tried to mimic the Korean 2nd second hand I used for long time where it was super well made with very thin leather and folding were clean and also the way they use thread to sew also can be 2 different colour. Mai had told me that they had used machine while we have the limitation due to our is handmade. 

Money clip outer and card slot fixed, balance edge paint and clip sewing

However, I still cannot get over the fact that the wallet didn’t meet my expectation. Half way into the day, Mai probably noticed that I am stress and offer to help us to speed up the progress. She took over and help me to trim from the card holder side which is the most difficult and punching holes for the sewing. Following is the photo for the ending of day 3.

Today Saturday we checked out from 99 Au Co homestay, traam Viet house. They charged us separately from the utility which suck. We proceed to Mai place to finish up the detailing on the edge painting and sewing on the money clip. Jackie finish up her notebook cover and explored on repairing her leather iPod touch case. Okie, we still haven book our ticket to Nan Ning China and also haven find out next hotel yet. But you know we hated planning. Therefore, Jackie decided to stamp her note book case “No Plan” to symbolise this.

At 4pm, we finally finish the money clip with the final touch when we sit out the cafe to Tu Lao and Mai boyfriend was sold when he see my fishing rod is so small that I can afford to even carry fishing rod, cup and creamer stick mixer in my 7kg day bag.

Money clip hold money in the centre, 3 card slot with one hidden pocket behind and left pocket for receipts

Front view with blue thread to have a subtle navy blue colour which is made with soft goat skin

Internal slot using chrome leather for water resistance and sublet logo branding

Mai and BF were very amazed with our life and envy that we are able to make choices in life. Although we are not wealthy but we do not have liabilities too. Without children, mortgage and motor allows us to live minimally and fluid to travel as and when we like. After next week we will be likely going to Nan Ning via bus. Although slow but we have the time to enjoy and travel slowly. I think I am super lucky compare to 90% of the population, I need to be grateful for life. It’s not how much I own but is how little I need :)

Near blue 29 hotel, Cua Hang Sua Bo, Giang Vo Hanoi

Lastly, today we check in to blue 29 hotel in Giang Vo last minute and we stumble upon a very nice pure milk store that also serve nice cream puff. We suddenly thought of a nice idea to do leather wallet and gift it to people who we like to give as gift. Then we will ask them to “pay forward” for another person to receive this gratitude gift that they get to pick. So we are able to do leatherwork perpetually for infinite :)

Stroll along Tay Ho Lake

Today wake up quite late at 11am, prepare myself and go over to Mai leather shop to work on my money clipper. So we intend to eat the Tom (economic rice) behind Mai shop. Super nice one but when we reach there at 12:30pm, the food is all gone. Very powerful in Vietnam. Good food don’t last in Vietnam. So end up we walk further up to eat Bun Oc (snail noodle soup). 

After lunch we walk around for coffee. It makes me remember the time I was working in the city, lunch break Liao drink coffee after lunch break as last time I also have 2 hour lunch break. We stumble upon a very run down cafe, it entice us to go check it out you know cause we are sucker for shop that has 60s look. When I got in I am just very amaze with how Vietnamese can run a business using the least resources. In business term they call it the minimum variable product. They have half finish entrance door, half finish roof top and half finish cornice. But yet they are already running the business with full revenue capacity. The building was like demolished down half way and someone just took over and use red brick to repair to a functional building. 

Jackie is standing at the corner, can you see her?

After the coffee I went back to work on the wallet. I kinda stuck and keep staring at the leather and I can’t decide forward. Although Mai tried to input her advice on the job but I cannot agree with her on how some method is applied. Then I just realise the money clip that I brought online second hand for $30 is very well made. A lot of technique was used to make the wallet super thin. I keep want to use the technique on my own handmade and I realise that it was too difficult specially in thinning the edge and the folding at the round corner. So the whole day I only got to do one piece with a brand stamping. Tmr I need to carry on so I need to speed up and adore an easy method to finish the wallet even if it mean it has to be thicker.

After leather working today, Jackie decided to walk into the westerner side of Tay Ho Lake. For excising to clock our daily walking target and got an excuse to walk and talk and stroll along the lake. Weather is cooling. At 10pm the alarm ring and we have to take a picture of the day. At the moment we saw nice alfresco place where people sitting at the lily pond dating. So here is the picture :)

Behind Tay Ho Lake

Sandy house to cook a great meal for the ladies

Today highlight is that we was invited to Sandy’s house for the whole day to do women day. The day where Tracy will religiously buy flower from the market and all lady will just come to Sandy house to cook and decorate the vase. Then after all food cooked, they will 摆盘 outside and take a picture. All just for a Instagram-able photo, I do not really understand why need to get approval from the social media lah, but apparently this virus to create stress and anxiety is common in Vietnam youth.

While, myself as a Singaporean, and most people from China and Taiwan are feeling the inflation and market getting very bad. On the other hand, we feel Vietnamese are still spending I guess this is due to the market is emerging and there are still a lot of opportunity in the market, never really see Tracy and Sandy complaining life is difficult. Only me. Sandy secretly took us that her rice cooker from Japan cost her $2,000. 

Sandy just really very independent and trust us with her kids. She requested us to pick them up after school. Moon and Susu school is 15mins away from home if we ride bike. We had to carry 4 pac and children don’t even need to wear helmet. We find it very dangerous but this is common practice in Vietnam. So we took up the challenge and went over to fetch them back on the bike without the head gear. So funny that the teacher will allow us to pick up the children just need Sandy to inform the teacher beforehand. In SG I think sure kanna complain already the school.

Help Mai with her leatherwork business

Finally back to Hanoi and we finding another place to stay near Tay Ho. Although we like the studio layout a lot but don’t think the location and house rule of the place.

This week after we come back from Hai Phong, our task for the week will be accompany Jackie’s friend Mr Au and then Monday onwards go to Mai Bima leather shop to start another project to do a money clipper and also help her shop to do marketing. Using Chatgpt to layout a simple lesson module to film her teaching basic leather for marketing. Hope this turn out well and we able to come out with good end product for her. She don’t need more clients now as she already reach her full capacity. So the end products should be very likely be a digital assets.

Having our mountain chicken at our favourite chicken store

This store is having the best steam chicken. We are indulging on the chicken feet for 10k and chicken wing for 30k. Cause having the half chicken is so expensive at 300k so we can only do it when we have Mr Au and Tracy together with us as picture above.

On the way to tu lian to find Jie Jie to drink bia Hoi

Sad news, we kept going back to Tu Lian, Au co there to find Jie Jie to drink bia Hoi. Unfortunately, 3 times also see their shop closed. Jackie is quite confirm that they had closed down. From the way that time she handle the chef, scold and throw beer jar at the uncle I think they’re F&B very hard le. She also didn’t wanna reveal her number so we are also not able to get into contact with her. Actually I find that by not sharing number after many time we ask, I find it quite weird. It is like a red flag for keyman credit standing. Like having something to hide. Now cannot find her Liao. Sianz.

3rd night with Mr Au drinking Bia Hoi together

We took Mr Au for Banh Cuon, Mia coffee and Bun Cha at Yen Phu. This 3 locations are our comfort food. During our stay in Hanoi we will keep coming back for breakfast and lunch cause these are really good and cheap. This time round I didn’t fish at Tay Ho lake as I am tired about it already.

Ivy is a French mix vietnamese child

Finally we went to find Mai Bima leather to offer our 8 videos solution for her to market her brand. After some discussion we narrow down to CTA the video to her service offering. She will also like to offer her leather experience class on Airbnb. We hope we can solve her problem to increase her per hour rate from doing and selling leatherwork to offer class lesson to teach instead. Using the same amount of time we hope to raise her revenue for her business.

  

Hai Phong is not attractive for me

Had stayed in Hai Phong for 2 days and changed hotel twice. Now we end up somewhere in a very wulu place just beside the Hung Vuong bridge. This studio cost us 320k per night, with kitchen, sofa, desk and my Favorite smart TV with youtube. However the location is not ideal as you have to cross back the bridge to have access to food and amenities. Therefore it is recommended to rent a bike. (We able to find one for 100k a day just beside the train station.)

Studio with smart TV for me to watch 大白话

Japanese style studio for 320k per night

My overview of Hai Phong is moderate and I recommend to stay like 3 days. It is not very suitable for nomad due to the cost is closer to Hanoi. Some con for me is:

• food is not easily accessible unless you are in town.
• A lot of commercial building and we have a walk a lot to find cafe
• Accommodation is on the high side as compare to Nha trang
• The road with a lot of turns and newly built highway which is optimised for truck instead of people for walking.
• Food is not as nice as Hanoi
• Fruit is not cut for you unlike Nha Trang

Specialist food in Hai Phong is Cha Nem Cua (Crab spring roll), Bun Ca Cay (spicy fish noodle) and banh my cay (thin banh mi with pate)

The only place i had enjoyed is a secret cafe hidden away from sight. A lot of student come here to Tu Lao. Cafe Den Da is 20k and taste very nice. The cafe decor with board game, toy machine and aquarium. We very much would like to do this theme in the future at Kulai if we able to get our place there.

I don’t see myself coming back in the future. Now still Dalat and Nha Trang.

Took train to Hai Phong

Today we are on our way to explore Hai Phong. 2 hours by train ride from Hanoi. Train ticket cost us 115k dong / person. Jackie looks for excited like a baby with grapes and green mango on train. Surprisingly that the train is air conditioned with power plug and toilet at each cabin. We are assigned cabin 14 and we had to walk quite a bit to our seat.

What is fun is the climbing up the train like immigrant like this. The train ride was not very fast and I believe is around 50km/hr. That why it will takes us 2 hours to reach Hai Phong which also take 2 hours if you are riding motorbike.

Tracy was kind enough to lend us her bike for free. Due to the bike is without insurance paper and mirror so it was not advisable for us to ride to Hai Phone on motorbike. We will have to temporary park our bike at MaI Bima Leathercraft shop while we are away for these week.

Yesterday night we brought Sandy and her 3 daughter to Hanoi to enjoy chicken feet. Jackie was damn enjoying the chicken wing as she say that the chicken is full of favour as it was breed on the top of the mountain somewhere in the north Vietnam. You can come here as we highly recommend it.

Sandy newly added 3rd baby 

We secretly gave Mai a surprise visit

Hanoi lodging is so high compared to Nha Trang. Usually we pay only 4 star hotel for $18 but in Hanoi central / Tay Ho we are only able to get $30 for 3 star hotel. 

Earlier this morning when I went down to eat and I saw the haze is so bad in Hanoi and I do a quick search on the air quality and realise it was 25x above world recommended level. OMG, extremely unhealthy and I think Hanoi will not be a good place for us to relocate. As this is the 3rd trip this year and I think i will not come back to Hanoi anytime soon. I personally now like Dalit and then follow up Nha Trang now.

From Airbnb at Yen Phu we check out and move to lahomestay hang dau. I see the picture so nice but price at only $15 on agoda. But when we check in then the owner tell us that the hotel is newly added in the agoda and they didn’t prepare the room for us. So our 3 days booking have to cut to 1 and I need to move out again tomorrow.

Today after checking in to hotel we decided to give Mai a surprise at her Bima leather company. She was a new friend we made when we was looking for leather tools during our first visit. We decide to drop by her office and give her a surprise. 

Today big news is that the China bull market suddenly pull back and a lot of 90s and 00s are taking up loans and brought into the market. They were heavily influenced by China influencer. However as these younger generation had not accumulated much assets and those 3rd party non bank lender will see a lot of default from these group of people. 躺平了. Now is really getting harder and harder for younger generation. The economic no longer make sense even for me.  

Got a haircut in Hanoi for $3.70

First thing is a good news. Jackie found my wallet below her bed. I lost my wallet just a couple of day ago. Inside have my revolut card and I replaced the card thot and I was afraid that the card may not arrive in time before I go Hanoi. End up that the replacement card came within 5 days :)

Second thing I wanna complain to you is that I am typing this blog using iPad Pro 9.7 with the Smart Keyboard. Many people complain that the Smart Keyboard was hard to type on but not for me. I able to match the same typing speed with my Logitech keyboard at home with around 45 words per minute.

Continue to hunt down for the best machine to bring over for travel. You know I have to balance between total weight as I only carry one bag under 7kg with all my belonging for at least 1 month travelling. Therefore I have these machine with me, MacBook Air 2017, iPad Pro 9.7 or iPad Mini 6. I still love using the mini due to the size, weight and portability. But I want to complain that I haven found a suitable portable keyboard to match the machine.

Lastly I want to update on my travel today. I believe today to be the 3rd day we reach Hanoi and 10 Oct is Vietnam Independence Day. We happen to go eat Ngan Mian and stumble into old quarter to see the nice decor as per picture of the day below. Today happen as we come across a nice chicken feet store and the boss Ah Peh treat us some feet and chicken meat. The chicken is very special and nice. I hope I can visit the store tomorrow and share the joy with you.

Hanoi 10/10 independent day in Hanoi

The Chinese word behind is to tell us we should keep learning our whole life

By the way, I did a hair cut for only $3.70 in Hanoi with one of the shop vendor.

Visit Hanoi 3rd time this year

First night at Hanoi, 26 Yen Phu

 Today we travel again to Hanoi. This is the 3rd time we go for one month travel in Hanoi within one year. I slowly like getting tired for Hanoi already. However, Jackie still like this place and promise that autumn is going to be nice then many of our friend say.

First night we didn’t book any hotel and only start finding one after 6pm. We end up choosing 3 days at Airbnb at 26 Yen Phu. The place is quite nice and we like it. All thing I need are there, warm shower, cold air con, balcony and TV with YouTube.. Somemore the price is reasonable considering that we are staying in Hanoi. $15SGD for one night. For 3nights + cleaning fee + platform fee, it cost us $64SGD for 3 night. Okie lah. 

Jon suppose to meet us here from Nha Trang but he has to leave the country to Thailand for couple of days to renew his visa. As a UK residence he is able to get 45 days visa free in Vietnam. Nice. We will be getting around to Ninh Binh these few days.

Once we landed at the airport, we took a grab car straight to Tay Ho Lake to find Mia coffee again. The cost for transport is 300k and the distance was 19km and rooks us 40mins. We met up with Tracy and she was slimmer since last time we met her at Ha Giang. Her cat also increase to 5 and she took out 2 small little kitten to play with us. She is so nice and she lend us her motorbike rent free. See this is good will goes around and comes around. Stay tune for the next few days for our activities. 

Marriage is getting irrelevant

Throw back, tu lao in Hanoi Mia coffee

Today went down to visit aunty at Chinatown. I think it has been a year since I last visited her. She looks healthy and stronger after she went exercise. Not like last round she look grumpy and lethargic. Then I overheard my cousin is doing divorce with his wife. (As per my aunty).

I sort of see them optimistically in their marriage with baby and stuff. Furthermore he got into the relationship at a later stage. So I thought being able to uphold and manage the marriage will be easier. As people is more mature and really had taken time to vet thru their spouse. Apparently, many things can spark disagreement in a relationship regardless. 

It only reinforce the ideal of marriage is really outdated. Or should I say this ideology is getting obsolete as society advances. 

Actually do you know that marriage is a form of strategic. It was created during war and to better conserve the wealth for heirloom. Different era actually call from different arrangement of marriage. Like example during era where the king is able to marry many women is due to war, many men were kill in the war and having a men to reproduce with many women will allows more children to be replenished. But as our social currently balanced out population, having polygamy doesn’t make sense anymore.

Nonetheless, every era different things changes and I believe marriage is slowly phrasing out.

Nha trang one month travel

 Right vs wrong and the grey areas

I Ching famous quote 阴中有阳，阳中有阴。阴阳环抱，生生不息。which mean that unlike the western culture of right and wrong. Chinese have an in between which is isn’t right nor wrong. We have to careful not to be influenced by western cultural of being straight forward as if this is only morally/legally right or wrong. 

There are a lot of case where by it’s lawfully right but morally wrong and via verse. But we are often told to behave in a certain way so we are legally right. The world created rules and regulation just to tame us but often you see these so call legal system is used to exploit helpless people by those elites. The legal system only protect them but not the mass really. You can see so many people cannot go to court due to the high fee to engage lawyer. Those big company monetized on intellectual rights to steer mass market away from their so call “branding”. 

Nha trang one month travel had been concluded and complie into a video. It is a place that’s is relatively cheap compared to HCM and Hanoi. Around 30% cheaper on their accommodation and food. Food more leaning to HCM style, the banh mi and Tu tiew. Other than it’s near a beach, otherwise I cannot find a great exercise option like basketball court. Everyday only can see uncle and aunty go swimming. We will or will not return to Nha trang again. If you like where we hope around in Nha Trang. This is my Google pinned place. 

Nha trang · Garynbc