Hanoi...

It took a long time to get a visa on arrival and then through passport control in Hanoi.  First, you stand in one line to show your entry letter.  They give you a form to fill out with the usual information, a photo (didn't have one), and then asked for a bunch of personal information like phone, email, relatives, etc, which I didn't fill out anyway and they didn't seem to care.  Then, you go to a second window once they call your name after half an hour and as an American, pay a huge visa fee for a one year visa (cannot get 30 day visas anymore, I was told).  I didn't have enough USD on me so they directed me to an ATM where I paid in Viet. Dong.  And they had to take my photo.  Then I finally got to get through passport control and pick up my bag.  So I grabbed a bite to eat before the 45 minute ride to the city.  Below is a glass of water they gave me, which wasn't the color of water.  It tasted like normal water though.