Moving hotels again

It took eight days waiting in a room next door at Phan Lan to get our room at Bich Duyen back. (In case anyone is interested--it's pronounced bick doo-un). Phan Lan was nice, but it was noisy since the room was right by the lobby. There wasn't a lot of noise, but talking did filter in, especially late at night when the partygoers were just getting in and I was trying to sleep.
The one perk of Phan Lan that I will miss is the bath tub. That would have been more convenient for bathing Henry than the walk in shower we have at Bich Duyen. Also the shower head on the tub had its own European style water heater so there was never a loss of hot water.
The room did have a window--with a brick wall less than a foot away. A window to nowhere--sort of a metaphor for much of this process I have been enduring. There was a tiny corner of light that shone in from the upper right corner, but it lead to an interior alley that seems to have been a busy work area. Early in the morning there was the clang of pans and the spash of water running as people washed dishes or clothes or maybe themselves.

Bich Duyen, Pham Ngu Lao

So finally we got our second floor front room in Bich Duyen, with a window that opens onto the small pedestrian street and a double and single bed which will give room for all three of us when that day finally comes that I bring Henry back here. The room also has more storage space with larger furniture pieces and more floor space.

Thien Xuan

This is the agency recommended hotel, the Thien Xuan. It is three or four blocks away, on the other side of Ben Thanh market. It has a large lobby, more like a western hotel. Hotel staff greet you by opening the door. It also has an elevator. There is a coffee shop where breakfast is served. In the photo below I observe through the large aquarium as Kelly and Cameron are talking to Mr. Hiep.