We left Hue at 8 ish and after a spectacular 4 hour drive via the Ocean Cloud Pass, Danang and China beach we arrived in Hoi An to brilliant sunshine. The An Phu hotel was amazing with a pool and an brand new pool table. After lunch some of us went to Yaly ( a tailor) where I bought a made to measure 100% cotton shirt for only $17! After more pool (both swimming and playing) we headed out to eat where I had the nicest tomato soup complimented by a Jack Daniels an...

Christmas eve and I woke to find a christmas tree in my advent calendar. After 2 instant noodles (for breakfast) we arrived in Hue at 11. For lunch we walked to Lac Thien which supports mute and deaf people, sadly the service wasnt great. The Imperial Citadel was supposedly a must but was nothing spectacular. After a curry at Omar Khayan we headed to the DMZ bar, the music was great, the pool table popular and we all had too much to drink, finally getting to bed ...

Climbing 421 steps to see the view of Halong Bay was well worth it and there was also a sense of achievement having done it in barefeet. Returning to the boat we jumped off the top deck (more than once) to find the water boiling, after a warning it would be freezing from our Vietmanese tour guide Hanh. After an early lunch we returned to the habour and then onto Hanoi, where I put my clothes into the laundry for the first time. We then met the remaining members o...

Arriving back in Halong Bay saw a complete change to the previous time. There were still all the pirate boats but the sun was shining, the boat was luxiourious and I had my first meal with the vegetarians, due to my dislike of seafood, Tofu is disgusting! After another visit to a cave (spectacular but start to look the same) we went kayaking, the sunset was breathtaking but the kayaking itself was hard work, so Jon did most of it! Back on the boat it was Johns bi...

After a small trek in the morning lasting only 2 hours we left Mai Chau province and headed back to Hanoi, again stopping at Lac village for lunch. We arrived back in Hanoi, had a long awaited shower some of the group went to Goldenland Cafe. My meal consisted of a BLT, garlic bread, mars cheesecake and yoghurt with honey. Random and unhealthy but really delicious!