Train arrived in Hue at 11am and was a pretty good trip and slept quite well Nice hotel in Hue (pronounced Hway) Short break to freshen up then bus to Citadel and walk around this World Heritage site in the process of being restored to its former glory. It is a huge complex from one of the Dynasties containing Royal suites and many other sections for the family etc. over 10000 people lived inside the Citadel walls and over 1000 of them inside the Emperors priv...

As expected bit slow this morning but up and about by 7 as we had to have breakfast and pack up to arrive backin port at 9 Then 4 hours back to Hanoi with a stop at a Cottage Industry for the Disabled where we saw some excellent embroidered pictures. A purchase by Mathis and Tenzin who got the price halved by some very successful bartering - same on Alan liked so have been invited to stay with them in London to see it up and framed Back to a hotel day room in H...

Off to Halong Bay from Hanoi (about 4 hour drive) then onto our boat for the rest of the day, tonight and a bit tomorrow morning Good boat just our group of 10 (Arturo who is a Mexican living in LA has joined from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City) - private sleeping quarters, upper deck outside, food, drink etc and great crew - bit like a houseboat with staff Halong Bay is just simply amazing and better in real life than some of postcard pics you might have seen. We c...

Free day in Hanoi today. Had to change rooms but then Alan spent the morning doing Please Yourself Travel flight bookings so a bit boring At about 12 we headed out to the Old Quarter to walk around - great experience and this city is a total immersion experience and you just have to embrace it and go with flow to appreciate it Lunch at another JoMo Bakery which has been a saviour when we have needed a break from Asian food More street walking then back to the...

Today is a transit day so a bit of time this morning for breakfast then out of the hotel to the airport for Lao Airlines flight to Hanoi All smooth at the airport except for Martin who discovered his passport is now under 6 months left so he may not be allowed to enter Vietnam Good flight and yes Martin was let in and headed straight off to the Swedish Embassy to get a new passport Good hotel, quick check in, off to dinner at a traditional Vietnamese restauran...