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! TOMORROW WE GO TO HOI AN THE SHOPPING MECCA OF VIETNAM, I'M HOPING TO GET EITHER SOME CLOTHES OR SILKS, IVE SEEN SOME NICE THINGS HERE BUT APPARENTLY ITS BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL HOI AN. WE STAY THERE FOR 3 DAYS SO IM NOT SURE WHAT WE'LL SEND AS ME SHOPPING ISNT THAT INTERESTING TO ANYONE BUT ME. I HAVE TO SAY I'M STILL KNOCKED-OUT BY HALONG BAY. The narrow gauge railway (where the carriage hung over the width of the wheels) meant that the journey was far from pleasant. Someone had obviously called the driver a tart an he took every opportunity to throw on the brakes and hurl us around. Some good visits this morning followed by a bath and lunch. Such small pleasures can mean so much!