Happy, high above the clouds at 30,000 feet, I was filled with a sense of exhilaration when the captain announced the descent to my destination, Vietnam. The clouds parted, and I got my first glimpse of Hanoi, the capital city and tourist hotspot, which embodies a cultural fusion between the rich Eastern heritage and the modern Western lifestyle. Before sightseeing, I withdrew some local currency and felt like an instant millionaire as the Dong’s lowest denomination is in thousands. Crossing the road in heavy traffic was quite challenging. It wasn’t until evening when I met Irma, a fellow traveller from Holland that I learnt to cross the road like a local.