Hoi An - Sunday 25th We checked in to a pleasant hotel with a large, modern room, but we had the usual hassle of the DVD not working and no WIFI access in the rooms as promised in their glossy brochure. Went out to explore Hoi An, which is much more compact and a little less busy than Hanoi and full of tailors and shoe shops.There are quite a few tourists here and the town has a more relaxed atmosphere. However, just two seconds after we stepped out of the hot...

HalongBay -Thursday 22nd We were picked up by the tour guide and started the three-hour bus trip to HalongBay.Unfortunately, on the way we were playing with the camera to try and enhance the colour of our pics and managed to wipe off three days worth of photo's in Hanoi! To say that we felt sick is an understatement. The little Vietnamese boy sitting in front of us was quite cute and cheeky and went some way in helping to ease the pain.When we arrived at the d...

Hanoi - Thursday 15th Arrived in Hanoi airport and handed in our papers for the visa.There were four vacant looking 'officials' who passed our forms and passports backwards and forwards to each other, looking as if it was the first time they had clapped eyes such things.After waiting around for what seemed like an age, someone with a walkie-talkie and a few badges on his uniform turned up and muttered a few words and then finally everything sprang in to acti...