After a quick breakfast at hotel, we got a Grab to airport and checked in for our short flight back to Hanoi. The group in front of us polished off a bottle of Jaeger in line. We are all on different trips…

For our last night we are staying at Sofitel metropole, the Grande Dame of Hanoi. I’m trying to use all The Edit credits we can from my Chase card, so we got room service hotdogs and caviar. Then a nap, to prepare for a late night ahead.

We took another Grab to Voc Records, who have their own label of local music, along with a ton of new releases. Saigon Rock & Soul is out of print, but I maybe able to find it once I’m home. Instead I got a nice compilation album called Saigon Slow Blues, which has original tracks from the pre-war period. Our final shopping stop was at Three Sisters Silk, where got some sick robes for lounging around, and they insisted on shooting a fashion walk.

For the NYE festivities, we booked a table at SkyBar. I thought this would keep us out of the crowds, but it was also pretty crowded with gringos and rich people. There was a good DJ, but not enough room to really dance. We enjoyed the fireworks countdown and champagne, but left soon after the turning of the year. Walking back to our hotel through a big crowd around the lake, I marveled at how well behaved everyone was. Back in the hotel, I had hoped they’d have a big band playing Auld Lang Syne, but instead they looped more house hits, and mercifully ended at 1am. We have an early flight tomorrow…