Hanoi, with a population of approx. 4 million people, is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulewards, verdant public parks and its thriving old town centre - an architectural museum piece with blocks of ochre building retaining an air of the 1930s provincial French town. And then there's the scooters! Or the evocative old quarter is a great place to sample bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) in a microbar or drop into a cafe to taste the coffee Vietnamese sytle - very sweet! Take a stroll around the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake to help soothe the challenge of trying to cross the roads of never-ending traffic!