The streets of Hanoi are filled with patriotic flags and more motorbikes than I've ever seen in all my flashpacking (except for maybe Siagon)..
The streets of the old quarter in Hanoi, are a busy place, filled with pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles and the occasional rickshaw on the prowl for flashpackers in need of a ride. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to refuse souvenir hats over the sound of honking horns as you move through the area. Instead of spending time in the city, I’d suggest heading north to Sapa or east over to Halong Bay.