our home away from home

Atlanta 20 Mar 2007 (1), originally uploaded by mattpowelluk.

After much agonizing and searching we have found a place to call home in Hanoi- the Atlanta Residences. We didn't want spend a month in a hotel room with 3 kiddos so we we began looking for something along the lines of a Residence Inn or Homewood Suites. Something with a separate bedroom and a kitchen. Well that doesn't seem to exist in Hanoi. From what we can figure out, neither do modest, fully furnished apartments available for short term rental. So for not much more than the rate of a hotel room with 3 beds, we are staying in an amazing, luxurious apartment with a fitness center, 24 hour concierge, and daily maid service - they even will wash our dishes! ha! We had several choices of these luxurious buildings all around Hanoi and we opted for one on a quiet street that is not too far from parks, restaurants and shops. We will have to take a cab to some of the sites but we think it will be good for the kids to be in a less hectic neighborhood.

Now I just need to figure out how to get over my guilt of staying in an apartment with a monthly rent twice as high as the annual per capita income of Vietnam!