22 December 2006

A late start was the order of the day before setting out to explore on foot. First to the Opera House a stunning building to match Londons, then onto the lake with the Temple of the Turtles. Back into the Old Quarter and the crazy traffic we navigate around a selection of the 36 streets that make up the district which sells anything and everything. The next decision to take a cyclo proved to be quite an experience haggling with the driver over price and dodging the traffic we arrived at "Brothers" for lunch to have a rather frenzied altercation over the fare. Standing my ground I broke free from the drivers grip to escape into the tranquil stting of the restaurant for a relaxing lunch. more walking ensued as we explored the city and eventually arrived back at the hotel about 4pm to take refuge in our room for a cosy evening relaxing with room service and the VH1 Rock Awards - rather sad but just what the doctor ordered.

23 December 2006

Picked up at hotel by minibus to take us to Halong Bay that was to proved to be a very scary 3 hour journey as in Vietnam there are no rules for driving your just take whatever piece of tarmac  that takes your fancy - drive like hell and keep tooting your horn. However we did arrive safely to find the quayside at HB somewhat like Hanoi but with junks and not mopeds and taxis.

The tender took us out to the Halong Ginger, a 7 month old luxury junk for only 20 passengers to be pampered and spoilt in 5 star luxury. Definitely one of our better decisions when we saw some of the old tubs plying their trade. First we sat down to an 8 course lunch and bottle of Sauvingnon Blanc while we sailed out into the mist shrouded bay for our first stop Pagoda Island. Here we worked off a few pounds climbing the 400 plus steps up to the Pagoda where the views across the bay are stunning and difficult to explain as the thousands of  rocky islands towering out of the sea stretch as far as the eye can see. Down on the beach I took the opportunity to have my first swim in the sea of the holiday- slightly cool and very salty. Back onboard HG for a spot of sunbathing while we cruised to the floating fishing village where we went back on the tender to explore the smaller coves and bays where the junk could not go. As the sun began to set we went back onboard to get ready for dinner that was another 8 course feast plus more SB to make a wonderful evening that was our Christmas treat to ourselves.

24th December 2006

Woke to the sunrising above the rocks to give us another day of wonderful weather for this time of year. Spent the first hour sketching the many islands that surrounded the secluded mooring we were fortunate to have to ourselves overnight. By 8 am we were off to visit the Hang Sung Sot caves, discovered about a hundred years ago they are the largest ones the bay and probably one of the largest in the world - stunning. A leisurely brunch was to follow while we cruised back to port and the prospect of the white knuckle ride back to Hanoi. A wonderful trip and a must for anyone visiting Vietnam a real indulgence.

Back in Hanoi we went back to our hotel to swap bags around and had a couple of hours to kill before taking the overnight train Lai Coi close close to the border with China and our Christmas destination in Sapa.