Tue 31/7
After only about 4 hrs sleep we headed to catch our bus, at least with it being early there was no traffic and very few people at the bus station! Bus is comfortable enough which is good since we don't know how long its going to take. At about 12ish we stopped for a free lunch which was hardly fit to eat, some sort of fish tasting balls with rice and veg. Surprise, surprise there are guys there ready to change your chinese money for vietnamese. We had hardly any left (£5ish) and got offered a terrible exchange rate but changed it anyway coz the chinese money was no use to us any more and we had no Vietnamese money on us. The border crossing was no bother, although I did get sent back from one of the check points because they had given me my entry stamp but never signed it. Its one of the nicest border crossings we have been to, more like some sort of park than a border. Arrived in Hanoi about 5-6ish. After changing our money we had just enough to jump in a taxi to get to our hostel which was good. We were both starving and luckily there was an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet across the road from where we were staying. We definitely got our moneys worth from there! Relaxed and had some free beer at the hostel before having an early night.

Wed 1/8
Had a very lazy day today, got up for the free breakfast, relaxed in the hostel, went out for lunch and then back to the hostel to relax again. Met an english guy called Dave who was staying in the same dorm as us. Chatted for a while in the afternoon and met up again at happy hour for the free beer and ended up going out for dinner and drinks with him and Axle another guy we met. Another good night out but thankfully not as much drink or as late a night as in Beihai. It was weird tho coz Dave was so like Dave Clapham it was scary!lol.

Thu 2/7
Another lazy day much the same as yesterday, just no night out. Feels like we are wasting our days here but at least now we have a bit if a plan as to where we want to go in Vietnam!

Fri 3/7
Leave for Halong Bay tomorrow so time to do a bit of sightseeing! Went to Hoa Lo Prison first which was quite interesting although a bit depressing at times, then we walked round the lake past Thap Rue, Ly Thai To statue and then went into Ngoc Son which wasn't very interesting at all, the highlight was the embalmed remains of a giant tortoise supposedly from the lake, it didn't even look real to us! Next we headed up towards the market and did a bit if shopping for our trip to Halong Bay. Unfortunately a few of the other things we wanted to go to were closed on a Friday. Cat and Ali arrived in the evening, just in time for happy hour! We all went out for dinner and a catch up but unfortunately i had to go home early coz wasn't feeling well! :( Cam was well chuffed to get a catch up wae his sister tho, roll on the next few days!