Obsidian

One week in Hanoi and Sapa 2025

7 min read

On October 26th evening I arrived in Hanoi after the Three day journey to Hanoi 2025. I found a cheap place to stay for two nights, since Monday was reserved for my first day of study, and I wanted to have a place to return to in the evening. Yet Tuesday I could be back on the road to another journey, or extend my stay. Planning started Monday afternoon. First day as student.

10-27 Monday - First day of study - Hà Nội 30.1 km

It Monday, the first day of my study at the University of Education Ho Chi Minh City (Trường Đại học Sư phạm TP. Hồ Chí Minh) as a bachelor of Vietnamese Language and Culture of Vietnam (Ngành Tiếng Việt và Văn Hóa Việt Nam). We have our meeting over Google Meet for 2 hours and the first 5 students meet there, most for the first time. Two other students are still in China and are waiting for their visa.

Monday: It is the first day of my study at the University of Education Ho Chi Minh City (Trường Đại học Sư phạm TP. Hồ Chí Minh) as a bachelor of Vietnamese Language and Culture of Vietnam (Ngành Tiếng Việt và Văn Hóa Việt Nam). We have our meeting over Google Meet for 2 hours (since I am in Hanoi) and the first 5 students meet there, most for the first time. Two other students are still in China and are waiting for their visa. I added a page to my Obsidian vault under Official start of my study at Su Pham and Extension of a few projects. That’s the beginning of Semester 1 hcmue.edu.vn.

Later I was checking the weather, there should be sunshine in Sapa and Fansipan on Wednesday! It is a one day trip. Should I go there? I guess so. I checked out the location of the kingdom hall for the wedding on Friday, took a picture, visited Vinhomes Times City in Hanoi, and parked at the McDonalds there. Special offer to get the coffee cheaper, continue digital planning for the next few days.

10-28 Trip to Lào Cai, China and Sapa 369.9 km

I arrived in Lào Cai at about 4:00 PM. On Google it states that the border crossing is closing at 5:00 PM, but this only applies for cars. You can walk there until 10:00 PM. Many Vietnamese get a 3 day tourist visa, valid for an area of 7 kilometers from the border gate. I get a 30 day visa exception for China and walk over to He Kou, visit the train station and downtown. Two hours later, I will return to Vietnam.

10-29 Wednesday - Fansipan 21.1 km

It is a sunny day, as predicted on Monday. I start the day relaxed with a breakfast 7:00 AM, then refill at the gas station. Check out the Núi Xẻ Ranger Station Trạm Tôn for a future tour at 9:00 AM, and yes - you need a guide! Maybe I should note this in Hiking in Vietnam.

Two South Africans are there and get their guide, so I join them for 1,200,000 VND. We start 9:30 and have great weather and conversations. Schutte Venter does Ultra Trails with 100 kilometers in 18 hours, and his wife is a similar fit. Good that they take the “old man” (me) into consideration.

Eventually it’s the 5th fastest time recorded on Strava, and I am completely exhausted. Hitted the wall (bonking in biking) for me? 5:30 it got dark with sunset. We could still see a little, but used the flashlight from 6:30 to 7:30 when we finally arrived. Probably. 9:00 PM

I’m not driving to Lào Cai but staying at the SAPA HUB hostel, I’m done. I was driving back with just 20 km/h and it took twice the time! The muscle pain stayed for another week! I could not take the stairs the normal way for the next 6 days.

  • 2025-10-29 with Schutte and Liz Venter from South Africa
  • Up 9:13 - 14:27, Time 4:25:01, Elapsed time 5:13:55
  • Distance 11.85 km
  • Kilocalories active/total 1895/2374
  • Elevation gain 1474m
  • Down: 14:49 - 15:38 (battery dead, it took until 20:00), Elapsed time 5:11:01
  • Distance: 11.85 km again
  • Total distance: 23.7 km in 10h24 with more than 4000 kcal burned
  • Measured in Strava: 20.82 km, 9h44 elapsed, 3809 kcal, 1904 height gain

Results Strava:

10-30 Return to Hà Nội 385.4 km

Nhung’s family invited me to stay at their place. Immediately I was involved with the family, no time to “just leave” for the English meeting, or visit the central congregation

10-31 Wedding of Thai and Tram 0 km

Nhung’s sister is taking us to the KH with her car, so we’re not bothered by the rain. Dỉnh has an encouraging talk for the new couple. After that we enjoy the company of all the guests with some good food.

11-01 Wedding part II in Hung Yen 50 km

It’s slightly raining again on this Saturday. The second wedding part at Thai’s parents house is supposed to start at 11:00 AM. Trâm sent a message that we should start earlier in the North, at 10:00 AM. But we can already arrive at 9:00 AM, which we do. And the party is already in full swing!

Actually it is the third part, since the first party was in Nha Trang earlier this week at the house of Trâm’s parents. The guests enjoyed the two days there very much, see the reel on Jesse’s Instagram account!

The afternoon we went to Thai and Trâm’s apartment, rested a little, joined the Phan Thiet congregation over zoom and then had a good time together. For a few months there is a Hmong group in Hanoi, and it has 13 publishers - one brother, 12 sisters. Three of these young sisters are with us and share some encouraging experiences of their bible students.

Our Ha Giang group is leaving this evening with the bus. I stay another night in Hanoi and will pick up Minh at the airport the next day. That’s the plan, anyways.

11-02 Sunday - Finally meeting Markus

I live in Vietnam since 2016, as does Markus. How is it, that we only meet by chance in August 2025 in Quy Nhon? Well, Hanoi and Saigon are far apart. We don’t travel to either city very often. This morning we have a coffee together at asdf near the Hồ Hoàn Kiếm. I can drive my bike through the store to the backyard, and we head for the third floor. Nine years in Vietnam gave us a lot of things to talk about.

We figured out that in fall of 2010 we were at the same time in the Bethel in Selters, Germany. But with more than 1000 people around us we did not notice one another.

Continue with part III

It got a little later, since I had lunch at Nhung’s sisters house. But Minh had to pick up a better helmet at her sisters house, so we would meet there. Planned departure time: about 3:00 om. The journey continues: Ha Giang loop a second time in 2025

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