Hanoi (11.07.2012): Today we explored Hanoi to the max. We have walked miles in what seems to have been our hottest day in Vietnam yet. We set off early after breakfast to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The mausoleum houses Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body, which was a very strange experience. There are many guards surrounding the mausoleum and it was quite intimidating. Many Vietnamese people save for some time to make the pilgrimage to see 'Uncle Ho' - it is inte...

Halong Bay (08.07.2012 to 10.07.2012): Wow wee. We have just returned from the most magical cruise around Halong Bay. We are certainly in love with Vietnam again. Halong Bay is one of the world's natural wonders, located northeast of Vietnam. It is also a Unesco World Hertigage site, we have now seen all three Unesco sites in Vietnam. The bay is made up of 2000 islands made of mainly limestone and karst formations. We visited the less touristy Bai Tu Long Bay...

Hanoi Day (07.07.2012): We arrived into Hanoi at 5:30 am yesterday. The sleeper train was a nightmare. It is definitely best to get a proper sleeper than try to sleep in the seats. It is so loud and uncomfortable. I didn't know it was humanely possible to snore as loud as our neighbours. The Vietnamese sure can snore! On arrival we were swamped by the usual taxi drivers who got us in such a fluster we ended up walking 2km in the wrong direction. Every step was ...