Answer: Take the night train from Hue to Hanoi one night and back again the next. Mind you, nobody in his right mind would do such a thing absent some compelling reason, but I did it. It cost about $90 usd all told and took about 38 hours I didn't really have to spare, but it had to be done. Since by definition it's dark on the night train, you'll get very little in the way of train-ride photos, and not all that much from Hanoi. This just won't be a very thrilling blog post. Maybe I can find some other points of interest. . .mostly in the rain along QL49.
Oh, this is written from Lao Bao, at the border, one day after the crazy train trip, and a wet ride of about 200 km through the mountains, on the last day of November 2018
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| The train was two hours late getting into Hue, not a bad thing in this case, I got to explore around the station and found this. . .Very near the Hue railway station a canal choked with water weeds and this couple was tending a string of trammel nets from a typical Hue area tin boat. And we got into Hanoi at 0800 or so instead of 0430 |
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| The proceeds of such fishing turned up nearby on the sidewalk |
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| Later, Setting out the string of nets, all tied together |
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| Ah yes, a $1.50 meal across from the train station |
Then in Hanoi for a bit, after 13 hours on the train:
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| Folly!! No straps, on a hide a bed on a bike |
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| He got away from the curb. |
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| and off down the street though the thing opened halfway as he pulled away. I saw him no more, but wish him much luck! I'm sure I've done worse... |
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| Aha! This is a 1995 Vespa 200 cc 2-stroke, but it's brand new. . .you could have one too if you had about $5000 to spend on it!! |
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| Wedding photos in front of the cathedral in Hanoi. They probably won't be actually married for a month or so, but got this out of the way ahead of time |
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| I've loved this old thermometer for years, though it doesn't tell the truth any more. . .in the hall at my Hanoi hotel |
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| Grandma and great aunts. . .Christmas is a coming at home in Hanoi! |
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| getting close, i'll see it finished when I get back! |
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| I looked in a dozen of these shops looking for a simple plastic cover for my phone. Finally found one!! |
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| Couldn't help myself--a mannequin shop in Hanoi on my way to the train station... |
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| Soft sleeper, air-con, the height of luxury!! |
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| world going by |
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| dining car en route to Hue... |
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| "soft seat" car |
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| Breakfast on the way! |
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| Really good food on the street--various gummy things and hot salty sauce. After breakfast we left Hue, in the rain, headed for the border at Lao Bao |
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| Rainy day... 0ld bridge piers in the river, off to Lao Bao! |
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| Jungle in the mountains |
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| Mountain stream, headed for Lao Bao on QL 49 |
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| Traffic Jam on QL 49 |
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| Always a surprise, the cable stay bridge at the end of QL49 |
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| You know I like rooftop views--this is in Lao Bao |
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| Maybe better with the wrought iron grillage?? |
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| Dinosaurs anyone--fighting chickens!! |
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