Leaving Hanoi at 8.30 we arrived at Lac village for a local lunch at 1, after a brief stop and the chance to play table tennis with the locals. After lunch we drove to our trek starting point and started to climb. We arrived in Hong Kia the village of our homestay just before dark. The homestay was basic but comfortable (mats surrounded by a fire) so after supper everyone headed to bed, mainly to try and combat the cold. An early wake up, needing to use the love...

Arriving at Hanoi at 5 Am we made it to the Hang Ngoc hotel before 6. From there we walked round Hoam Kien lake to watch hundredspartake in tai-chi.After a lovely buffet breakfast we slept all morning, before I again walked round the lake soaking up the first signs of sun for a few days. Later that evening we met our tour guide and our group for the first 6 days, older than I thought but Charlie (Vic Reeves lookalike) is hilarious! So after dinner at Little Hanoi...

Leaving the train at 7 was too early for my liking but the bus to Sapa was a good chance for sleep. We arrived at the Cat Cat hotel to a free breakfast before hitting the sack for the rest of the morning! That afternoon we went to a so called village to meet the locals but all they were interested in was trying to sell us things! The hike back up the hill was knackering but I still decidede to go and explore the town! The weather was wet and miserable so after an...

We left Cat Ba Island on the 12.20 ferry, paying over double what we should. The worst thing was I knew we were getting ripped off! The ferry arrived in Haiphong city over 3 hours later, grabbed something to eat beforte catching a minibus for the 2 and a half hour drive back to Hanoi. We arrived in Hanoi but unsure where, our taxi driver claimed we were 30 km away and asked for $100, we settled at $15 believing we had a bargain, but arrived at our hotel 10 minute...

We left Hanoi with an organised tour bus and had arrived in Halong Bay by 11.30. We were greeted by an array of pirate style boats and after departing settled down to a lunch of squid. The boats to Cat Ba island stopped at various caves, one where you entered by boat which was good. Just before arriving in Cat Ba the driver of the boat fell asleep, causing us to crash into a cliff face of one of the many beautiful islands, the hit was harder than expected and Tak...