This morning we have time for a leisurely breakfast before a final walk in the streets of Hanoi. This afternoon we fly to Siem Reap. We arrive in Siem Reap and after completing the necessary visa requirements, we clear customs and make our way to the waiting masses of guides holding names, one of which was for us. Our guide Mr Pom Roath escorts us to Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor. It' was built in the early 1920's and while old, it's stylishly refurbished in keepi...

This morning we gave the Tai Chi a miss but went up for coffee and a croissant before going to explore a limestone cave. A spectacular site in the bay this morning as all the boats that are moored there have there main sails up. It's so picturesque. We go across by tender and then proceed to climb the 300 steps to enter the cave. It's only just after 7.30 but we are not the only ones there! The caves have been used by the fishermen as a safe refuge from the mons...

This morning we are first woken up while it is still dark by the loudest claps of thunder, the sky alight with lightning and pouring rain. It's very spectacular but as it is still dark it's easy to drift back to sleep. By 6.20 am, the rain has gone and we join the Tai Chi class on the sun deck. Interesting! Coffee and pastries are available for the early risers and then a full buffet breakfast follows at 8.30. While we are getting ready in our room, there are wom...

This morning at 7.30am, we left our beautiful Hotel in Hanoi after a delightful breakfast to travel 4 hours to HaLong Bay. The drive is interesting. Quite heavy traffic but once again it just flows. Because we had an early start we did avoid the morning rush in Hanoi but we did encounter a bottle neck when the main highway was condensed to one line of traffic because of road works. Once past this it's pretty easy going, passing through many towns along the way al...

Today we travel from Hoi An to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. After a swim in the ocean and a yummy breakfast, Quyen gets us to the airport in Danang in time for our flight. We travel with Vietnam Airlines. In Hanoi we are met by our local guide and driver and we are taken into Hanoi. Hanoi has a population of 6 million and 3 million motorbikes. They export over 8 million tonnes of rice / year and on the drive from the airport, the road is lined on both sides by ...