After the hustle and bustle of Hanoi - think too many people living in too small a space, add in thousands of scooters and cars, them mix in a good sprinkling of noise and finish off with the fab smells of vietnamese cooking and that's a taste of what it is like!! - we headed off on a 150km trip on Thursday to Halong Bay. The bay is a body of water approx 1500 square kms and consists of a dense cluster of 1969 momolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise from the ocean. Add in caves, lagoons, floating villages...

When we arrived at the jetty our guide, Bon, told us that we had been upgraded so we had a fantastic junk boat - waiter service, amazing food, great cabins, lots of space and a karoake machine...(more on that later!!)

Once on board we set sail and, over lunch, we sailed around the bay. Lots of seafood, fresh veg, fresh fruit - fantastic lunch! Then time to lie on the deck and take it all in before getting a samll boat to the surprise caves - these just went on and on and were stunning to walk round. Back to our junk boat and then time to kayak on the bay to a nearby lagoon - we were the only ones in it and it was so peaceful, beautiful and tranquil - stunning!!

Back on our junkboat and time for dinner - lots more seafood, huge king prawns, squid, vegetables...the food just kept coming!!

To round off the evening we had a karoake session with me starting the proceedings - Abba's dancing queen! A fun evening and not everyday you get to sing on a junkboat along Halong Bay!!

Off to bed and a peaceful night's sleep.