We have been in Vietnam for a few days now, and have been pottering around in Hanoi and sailing around Halong Bay.

We spent the first few days in Hanoi shopping around the amazing night market - bought lots of clothes and dvds which we are not sure if they work!, went to the water puppet show, went to the prison for Vietnam people during the war as well as American POWs (like John McCain). We also went to the art house cinema to see precious which was very depressing but a brilliant film.

THe weather here is very similar to England except more rainy and humid, for the first time we have actually been cold which is a nice change.

We then went on our trek to Halong Bay and kayaked around the little islands for about 20 mins (we were told we would be doing this for three hours...), went around the "suprise cave" which was huge but a bit too touristy for our liking - nothing compared to Vang Vieng. Later that evening we watched our guide and the people on the boat do Karaoke (they werent so good). Next day we went trekking thoough the national park to the top of a hill where we saw nothing as we were in a cloud. Also we were harrassed by bees the whole time. We then went to our resort on the Monkey Island (the monkeys were very angry and didnt like us), where we had free time to swim, kayake and laze around in ouch beach hut.

Next we are travelling to Hue on another night bus as its the only way we can get there! Wish us luck!!! :(