I THINK I WAS ONE OF A HANDFUL WHO ACTUALLY ENJOYED THE SLEEPER FROM HANOI TO HUE. THIS PLACE IS QUIETER THAN HANOI (I CAN'T THINK OF MANY PLACES THAT WOULD BE NOISIER). WE WENT GO THE CITADEL TODAY AND A TRANQUIL GARDEN WHERE THE BUDDHIST MONKS LIVE. THIS AFTERNOON WE OPTED OUT OF THE TOUR PREFERRING A BATH, LUNCH (WESTERN!) AND A FANTASTIC MASSAGE, SO WE'RE READY FOR THIS EVENING WHICH FINISHES WITH A DANCE (WESTERN STYLE) SO I'M JUST ABOUT READY TO BOOGIE! TOM...

WE ARE FINALLY CRUISING THROUGH/IN/AROUND HA LONG BAY. IT WAS TOUCH AND GO AS TO WHETHER WE WIULD SAIL AS IT WAS REPORTEDLY TOO WINDY AND THE BOAT MAY HAVE CAPSIZED, HOWEVER IT IS CALM AND WE MADE IT. THE VIEWS ARE PHENOMENAL. WE HAVE JUST FINISHED LUNCH AND IN ABOUT 30 MINS WE'LL BE STOPPING FOR A CAVE TRIP. DAVID IS TRYING TO DO THE WHOLE TOP GEAR THING IN 30 MINS. I AM DISCOVERING THAT SILK CAN BE BOTH WARMING AS WELL AS COOLING. IT'S STILL A BIT CHILLY BUT TH...

Up this morning and off to see good old Ho Chi Min. Been dead for years but still a hero, large as life in a box although his wish was for cremation and to be scattered in the Mekong. I have to say the old boy didn't look too good. I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE A GOOD LIKENESS! Ruth and I were ordered to remove our hats and take our hands out of our pockets. We had to walk two by two along a line and all got barked at. Pity they can't have the same effect on the traffic...

Had a lazy morning in Vientiane and made our way to the airport for our flight to Hanoi. Nice plush seats, snacks, beer, no sooner were we up than we were down. Bit of a climate change with temperatures down from 30c to about 18c with a steady drizzle. Wow is this city busy. Traffic chaotic. Every moment we looked out of the bus window there were near misses. Our minibus could not get close to the hotel because of traffic so we loaded our backpacks onto a tuk tuk...

Took about four hours to get to our last stop in Laos. After all the dramatic scenery and colonial buildings Vientiane is a bit of a flop. Most of the old stuff has gone and we could be in any modern Asian City in the world. Hotel is fine and we had a good meal tonight. Did all the usual, night market, Wat, and a huge concrete rendition of the Arch de Triumph ( apologies for the English spelling). Flying to Hanoi tomorrow about midday. So lazy start tomorrow. I h...