Hi well it has been a few days since I have added a blog as the internet access has been crap in Vietnam!! I still can't get used to being a millionaire here - 1 and a half million Vietnamese Dong is 50 pounds!! We left Ninh Binh on Thursday morning and luckily it stopped raining. We arrived at Halong Bay harbour at lunchtime which was filled with boats and tourists. Our boat was too big it couldn't enter the harbour so we had to get a smaller boat out to it. The boat was amazing!! It had 3 levels - lower floor with sleeping cabins, middle floor was a dining area complete with waiters and top deck had sun loungers! There were floating 'supermarkets' consisting of a lady in a little boat selling food/drink and when I went to the toilet she was floating outside and said hello - kind of gives you stage fright having an audience!We had a lovely seafood lunch and then had a sunbathe on the top deck - what a chore!!! It was so relaxing and quiet and the scenery was amazing. We then had a look around the caves which were huge although I got a bit freaked out having watched The Decsent and was on the look out for goblins!!! Before dinner we went kayaking around the bay and through the caves which was fun. We then had a quick swim but one of the group was stung by a jellyfish!! Had another yummy dinner and then drank the smuggled vodka (which cost 1 pound 60!!) on the deck.

The following morning we returned to the harbour and drove to Hanoi. Hanoi is the noisiest city I have ever been to!!! It is filled with motorcyclists who beep constantly and crossing the road is a challenge! It is like the Zurich advert where cars are coming in all directions and narrowly miss each other!!! We had a lazy afternoon exploring then had a cyclo tour of the city to the old quarter. Cyclos are basically like covered wheelchairs which you sit in with a man on a bike attached to the back - an interesting experience!! We then went to watch a water puppet show which was fun but a bit scary as there were Vietnamese style 'Chucky' dolls dancing in the water (sme in speedos!) I hate creepy dolls!! In the evening went for a Bia Hoi which is local home made beer - cost 10p!!! There were 13 of us crammed round a table getting harassed by booksellers but we had fun.

The following day we went to the Ho Chi Minh museum and had a look round his home and palace. Apparently you can see Ho Chi Min's body (nice!) but he had been taking away for cosmetic enhancement!!! Not sure whether I was relieved or disappointed about that! Had a look round the shops and discovered several nice bakeries and cafes. Had an amazaing dinner at Koto's which is a charity organisation. The food was delicious and only cost about 2 pounds! The girls (6 of us as a few went back to the hotel) then went out to a bar called Hare of the Dog which was very interesting. Very seedy looking and drak inside, was filled with a large group of 18 year old Canadians but had a BRILLIANT time. The cocktails were 2 4 1 and we managed to fit 12 on a tiny table. Music was random but danceable. We then got chatting to 3 Irish guys and went to a bar called Roots. Bit more chilled out which was a shame as we wanted to dance but was fun. I practiced being sociable and spoke to some French guys but I am already getting bored with repeating myself of where I am travelling to - oh dear I have 8 months of this!! Finished the night in style at 3.30am by getting a motorbike home (it was perfectly safe mum and dad!) with 2 of us on the back hanging on for dear life!!!

Didn't feel too bad this morning despite having 6 hours sleep.Went to the 'Hanoi Hilton' after lunch which was a prison and discovered that John Mclain was a prisoner there! Had a lazy day filled with eating and recovering and we are catching an overnight train to Hue tonight. Right I am going now as bit worried this will crash before I finish it! Sorry it is so long but I had lots to write about!

xxx