My sixty visa-free days in Thailand had come to an end, so I took the short flight across the border from Chiang Mai to Hanoi in Vietnam. My previous experience of Vietnam had always felt a little overwhelming compared to Thailand, but I was up for a dance after settling in that Friday night. I did a quick search for popular Hanoi dance clubs nearby and boarded the back of a bike taxi to one with a name that I still cannot pronounce nor remember.
Upon entering, an alien, a pig with furrowed eyebrows, and a spaceman, were doing some kind of performance on a stage. It’s Vietnam, so why not?! There was a moment when the alien feigned a collapse and the pig and spaceman resuscitated him. Girls in French maid outfits then began dancing on more elevated areas. (It’s interesting to note that the French did occupy Vietnam for 100 years, so their cultural influence in whatever curvy shape or form, is still very much evident).
Big black balloons were carried around and being sold along with drinks. The inhalation of nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) is no secret in Vietnam, but I got given “no filming allowed” gestures by the staff. I did have a few honks on a balloon and only researched what seems so normalised the next day. Inhaled for a brief “high”, chronic abuse can cause neurological damage. Not so funny when that happens!
I was not a huge fan of Hanoi the last time I visited. I stayed near a large lake called Hồ Tây, that felt and smelt super rotten – evident by fish literally floating belly-up and looking very dead – beyond any kind of CPR support. Being downwind helped this time, but in comparison to other SE Asian countries, I stick with the belief that Vietnam is very polluted. One drop of tap water on the tongue could end up making you very late for dinner. I got Pink Eye in Vietnam the previous year.
But there I was with a 90-day electronic visa at the cost of $54, with no real plan. Major reasons were that it was a short flight from Thailand and that I wanted to spend Xmas with a family friend who lives on the outskirts of Hanoi. I vowed to never spend the 25th of December alone again after a solo experience trying to defrost a turkey in a bathtub, crying to Christmas carols, and wanting to go hug the hobos on the streets of Cape Town!
My final days in Chiang Mai ended with a visit to a swanky jazz club. The rather steep entrance fee was totally worth it. A sassy singer, skilled saxophone player, professional pianist, bitching bass player, and a dope drummer (who was just 16) rocked the joint. There is thriving musical talent in the Thai world. They really deserve to be on the global stage. I plan to seek out Vietnamese talent in the coming days.
Next: Korean Street Karaoke – Bac Ninh
Previously: Chiang Mai: Royal Pavilion & Park, The Samoeng Loop & Palm Villa
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