I left Hoi An on a bus to Hue, luckily this was only 4 hours (was actually 6 - always add more time on to everything here!) When we arrived the vultures were out trying to scam you again, so I found a nice old man with a tuk tuk and got him to take me to the hostel when the heavens well and truly opened. I checked in and decided a beer was in order so went to the hostel bar and started chatting to two men sat at the bar. It turned out to be the hostel owner and his dad, and what I was planning as one beer turned into shots and god knows what before being dragged out on a bar crawl. I snuck out early before anyone could drag me back and through myself into my bunk. I didn't make breakfast the next morning.

What was to be my one day to explore Hue definitely did not go to plan. It wasn't just raining, it was practically a monsoon. The whole street outside the hostel was a river it was insane, coming from England you think I'd seen bad rain but this was something else! I had to check out and my night bus wasn't until 6, so unable to leave the hostel for fear of drowning a group of us just sat and read our books for about 6 hours. It was either that or the star trek marathon on the tv… I was sad as I did really want to go to the Citadel and explore Hue but all I ended up seeing was the hostel and a few bars. You can't win them all!

The lady at reception informed me I was being picked up and taken to the night bus which was a relief considering the weather. That was until she came and told me they were there. I looked and could see no mini bus anywhere. 'Over there, in the yellow jacket' So my lift turned out to be a teenager on a motorbike. In a monsoon. With my two backpacks. OH CRAP. I had no option, so hoped on the back and hugged the poor boy for dear life as we weaved around cars in the pouring rain whilst he told me how much he loved Man City. Again, going to put that down to an experience….

So, time for another night bus. After one good one and one bad, this could go either way. I think I'd put it somewhere in the middle. I finished the book I started in Hue, which resulted in my crying and the Japanese man next to me being extremely confused. I managed to get a little bit of sleep on this one but definitely wasn't ready for the vultures in Hanoi at 6am getting off the bus that's for sure. I joined forces with two other girls going to the same area and we got a taxi. I didn't have to wait too long to check in and had a nap before getting a map and taking on Hanoi by foot.

I followed the lonely planet walking tour which was pretty cool, You got to take in the lake and all the different streets in the old quarter. It's amazing, one street will all be toys, another all metal wear, another clothes, another decorations. I walked to the market which was 3 floors of stalls packed together, I didn't last long in there even though they were less in your face than the market in Ho Chi Minh that's for sure. By the lake I counted no less than 10 different couples having their wedding photos taken, must have been a lucky day to get married I wonder? It was pretty crazy!

I then walked to the prison, which detailed the conditions the prisoners lived in during the time period it was used and even had a guillotine that was used there. It was used to keep American pilots captured during the Vietnam war and went out of its way to show everyone how well they were treated compared to the Vietnamese. Like the other museums it all seemed very biased but was interesting none the less.

I then hiked it up to the temple of literature, which was packed. Not only were there more wedding photos happening which seemed bizarre at a temple, there was a graduation ceremony happening. Either way I had a walk around and then proceeded to walk back to the hostel after walking what was probably miles. I spent the evening chatting to people in the hostel bar before having an early night in preparation for an early start the next day.

I had booked myself on a tour of Halong bay, which included a 2 night stay on an island there where you could do activities. First of all we had to get a 4 hour (actually 5) bus to the harbour where we were all adorned with bright Mexican hats, then climbed aboard our boat where lunch was waiting for us. The weather wasn't great but luckily it wasn't raining so everyone sat on the top deck and got to know each other including a few drinking games along the way. We stopped after a few hours and jumped off the boat and went for a swim in the sea which was amazing!! I can't believe I couldn't swim not that long ago, and here's me swimming in the sea around Halong bay!

We carried on sailing and eventually arrived at the island that was to be our home. There was a group already there waiting for us and they had set up an assault course which most of us did to get in the spirit. We had our welcome chat and put our things in our huts, which were basically just a platform with ten mattresses and a roof, but I guess you don't need much more when you're living on a beach. The evening involved dinner, drinks, games and some late night swimming and getting to know our group a bit better.

We were blessed that the sun came out the next day, which was perfect for our activity day. I got to try wakeboarding, and even though it took me a few attempts to stand up, once I did I loved it! Definitely want to try it again!! Being so short I did have trouble getting back on the boat though, and one of the guys had to drag me on by my life jacket. Not one of my finest moments that's for sure. We welcomed the new group in the evening, but after having a pretty heavy one the night before decided to bail a lot earlier. This would have been good if some of our group weren't partying outside the huts until 6:30am. No one was looking very fresh faced at breakfast the next morning that's for sure. Nor were they very popular!

Back on the boat and we cruised back through the bay, and back to the harbour where we had first started. We waited for our bus for well over an hour in the heat which wasn't ideal, when it finally arrived with the new group all fresh faced swapping with us. The bus finally got us back to Hanoi and back to the hostel where I had a shower that rivalled post festival showers. At least you don't get sand at festivals!! I had my last dinner in Vietnam and went up to the rooftop bar where I'd arranged to meet some of my boat group, except none of them turned up, guessing they all passed out.. I hung out with some other people who were trying to convince me to pull an all nighter and come on the pub crawl when I said I had to be up at 5am to catch a flight to Thailand. I was nearly persuaded when I saw how much Vietnamese money I had left and did the wise thing and went to bed.

An early start and another flight, I am now sat in Bangkok waiting for a flight to Chiang Mai to start my Thailand adventure. My time in Vietnam had a rocky start but in the end I loved it and think it's been one of my favourite places I've visited on my travels. Lets hope Thailand measures up!!! x