After a bit of a false start to the trip thanks to an early (but thankfully minor) bout of Delhi belly, we’re hanging out in our room in the Mai Chau Lodge awaiting the coach to Hanoi. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t managed to do the things we came here for, but hopefully our gastric troubles are behind us now and I’m looking forward to sampling some of the native street cuisine the capital is so famous for.

I have some mixed feelings about our accommodations here in Mai Chau; The lodge is very modern and comfortable, with all the mod-cons you’d expect from a modern hotel in tow. The staff are typically polite and welcoming, and the rooms themselves are spacious and well decorated, with large windows revealing the mountainous rural scenery outside.

My only complaint here was the lack of choice at the dinner table; this place isn’t cheap, so we were quite disappointed to discover that at most mealtimes there’s only generally one option to be had on the menu, which is a slight problem if you don’t like what’s on offer (which we didn’t). I’d probably feel a little less critical if it wasn’t for our tummy troubles, but for a place this expensive you’d think there would be a few blander choices for those with delicate constitutions.