Halong Bay is absolutely stunning. The same Karst peaks that characterise Yangshuo in China, but set in the sea rather than amongst rice paddies. And even the fleet (literally, in terms of numbers) of tourist-filled boats don't spoil it, as the seascape is so incredible, and the boats are all attractive, wooden "Junk" boats that fit the backdrop perfectly anyway. We went on a three day / two night tour (which is how you have to do it, unfortunately; we...

(Good morning) Vietnam! (Sorry, very unoriginal, but I felt compelled!). And no chill-out time permitted to come down from our rollercoaster China ride. We thought Ulaanbaatar was a bit crazy, then Beijing was a slightly crazier still, but Hanoi is the craziest of them all! An absolute frenzy of motorbikes, which must outnumber all other modes of transport combined by about ten to one, and all trying to navigate streets only usually a single lane wide. And with p...