Wednesday we boarded our train, we had a little cabin with 6 beds, like trio bunk beds, so it was the 5 of us and a Vietnamese lady. As soon as the train started we tucked into our snacks then played cards before clambering into our beds, putting our ear plugs in and off to sleep we went.

Thursday, CHUC MUNG NAM MOI VIETNAM, we were all quiet surprised with how well we actually did sleep and weren't woken until about 7 and even then stayed in bed snoozing until 9:30! Our train was not scheduled to arrive until 12:00 so we rummaged in our bags for more snacks for breakfast and played cards and riddles until we arrived. It was a 45 minute taxi ride to our hotel, when we arrived we had a few hours to freshen up, nap, watch films or whatever you fancied before we all met up for the evening. We walked into town and ate Cao Lau for dinner, a Vietnamese dish like beef noodle soup with crispy croutons, very tasty. We looked around the local shops and at the lights on the bridge, Hoi An is so beautiful and authentic, the buildings are all very old and have French influences to them.

Friday we met for breakfast at 8:30, after we rented some motorcycles for the day as we wanted to ride the Hai Van Pass to Hue. The Hai Van Pass is a 21 km long mountain pass twisting along the coast providing beautiful views, the pass starred in Top Gear in 2008 where Jeremy Clarkson called it "a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coast roads in the world". It took 3 hours to get all the way to Hue so we stopped for some lunch and had a look at Imperial City, a walled fortress and palace however we did not go in as it was quiet pricey. There was a small boy with his father outside who asked if we could have a photo taken with them which made us all happy. The drive back was long, it rained and got dark but Kate and Max managed to direct us back in one piece! We were so tired when we got back and our bums were so soar we decided to eat tea at our hotel, instead of walking to town, then head straight to bed.

Saturday we met for breakfast then caught the 10:00 shuttle to town. We went to a tailors for Ben to order a suit, they gave him a great big pile of Next directories to look through, he picked a style and the material, he was given a quote which he excepted and was told to come back 11:00 tomorrow (sunday). After we walked to a leather shop for Laura and Kate to get bags made but unfortunately it was shut as it is currently Vietnamese New Year. We found somewhere nice for a drink and a cool down before heading to a Spa for massages as we all have aching backs from all the motorbiking! We headed back to the hotel and chilled by the pool for a bit then got ready to go out again for dinner, before we went out we Skyped Grandma Palmer for her birthday and played cards, for dinner Michael kindly treated us all to steaks!!

Sunday we met for breakfast minus Mike as he was not feeling well. Ben had to be back at the tailors for 11:00 for a fitting so we popped into town whilst Kate and Max stayed by the pool. The ladies at the Tailors were so thorough and noticed where amendments needed to be made without us pointing them out, they knew exactly how it should look. One lady was pointing out an amendment we hadn't even noticed and couldn't really see even when she showed us. We had to go back for fittings 3 times so they could get it perfect for Ben, they are perfectionists!! In between popping in and out the Tailors we wondered round town, met Kate and Max for some lunch and did some shopping. Ben collected his suit at 18:00 then we headed for dinner, just the 2 of us which was nice and after we found a pick & mix ice-cream shop! We went back to the hotel and packed our bags as tomorrow we leave for Ninh Binh.

Monday we met for breakfast then spent the morning laying by the pool before having some lunch, we were collected from our hotel at 14:00 for our 15 hour bus journey to Ninh Binh.