It's like night and day. Yangon's recent curbs on imports, though, have made foreign goods rather expensive. For sure, getting to both cities is easier than ever now. In Hanoi, a new terminal is near completion at Noi Bai airport, and an upgraded runway is coming to Myanmar's capital, courtesy of Japanese aid. Both cities are cash societies, though credit cards are accepted in top hotels and restaurants.
ATMs are common in Hanoi, rarer than opposition posters in Yangon.
Hotels in both present a bonanza of choice. Same in Yangon, so bargain hard. We get many tour groups, mostly from China, Japan and Thailand. Most have closed many floors and some like the Sedona have closed down some restaurants. When it comes to news, Hanoi wins.