After a night in Hanoi we moved on to a little cruise around Halong Bay. Quite an adventure it has turned out to be.

Getting on the boat for our overnight stay I looked around and the people that were doing this trip looked like something out of a Saga holiday. Anyway the rooms onboard this junk were amazing and all with views of the bay so therefore no inside cabins. We cruised over to a floating village where we went kayaking around the bay and stopped at some of the locals floating little houses. Very simple way of life indeed. We climbed to the top of a view point that was about 300 steps up and very steep not that disimilar to that of the Great Wall really. The views were amazing even though it was pretty cold. As if its winter here and I have come with lots of shorts and t-shirts...oh well.

So after an afternoon of saga kayaking and hiking it was back to the boat for some cookery lesson. I made spring rolls and they were lush.

Well everything changed after this as it appears that 18-30's got dropped of at our boat and it turned into a Barzilian party which was awesome. Any need for shots and beers with these party animals. Mom you would have been proud i paced myself and said no when I didn't want a drink.

Last night was New Years Eve in Vietnam so everything shuts down for a couple of days and it is total carnage to be honest with you.

Today I hiked though one of the caves which was very impressive. Photos to follow shortly well when I return to Beijing that is.

So now I find myself in Bai Chay on my lonesome as Elena and James couldn't get to me from Hanoi as they have no transport means. I am having a lovely time as it overlooks all the islands of halong bay and is truely amazing and is worth being one of the new 7 wonders of the wrold for sure.

Next stop haiphong and then Ninh Binh. What an amazing place Vietnam is and I have only managed to stay in the North for this trip.