Ha Long Bay

Day 29: Checked out old quarter of Hanoi - a bit groovy I must say. Soooo many bargains to be had if you had a home to put stuff in! We managed to control ourselves...

I had my first "avocado shake"... hmmm - jury is still out on that one.

Day 30: Took bus for cpl of hours and then boarded boat bound for not Botany... but Halong Bay. Cruised along and had lunch on the boat. Went swimming, climbed a "little" lookout [really steep!] and checked out some massive caves. Very beautiful.

Didn't realise how big Halong Bay was [3000+ islands, covering 1500 sq km].

Slept on boat - magic.

Day 31: Sea kayaking in the morning, sailed into Cat Ba island in time for lunch. Went for cpl hour walk in arvo across some private farmyards in the mountains, beautiful - had a beer with at a farmhouse where we [there was Row, myself, an Englishman & Italian & the Vietnamese lady whos home we were at] took it in turns to sing songs from our countries - priceless.

Dinner at hotel followed by a few quite beers & vodkas at the waterfront with the English and Italian guys - fantastic day.

Day 32: Back on the boat, more swimming in Halong Bay.

Arrive back in Ha Noi early evening. Grab some dinner and some SERIOUSLY good iced coffees [the coffee here is the best we've ever had] & boarded night train bound for Lao Cai/Sapa in the Nth West to check out some hill-tribe action.