One of the main ways to travel round Vietnam for backpackers is to buy an open bus ticket. You choose when you want to go and how long you want to be there for. I bought one that would take me to 5 places around Vietnam. First stop was Hue, the first major town south of Hanoi. I had already decided due to my short time in Vietnam that I would spend a day here and get the bus straight on to the next place. I therefore had to see all the sights of city very quickl...

A must do from Hanoi is to visit Halong Bay. Here you spend 2 days and 1 night (or more) on a junk cruising around this spectacular World Hertiage site. Over 3000 small islands rise out of emerald green waters, the majority are unhabited. It takes about 3 hours to drive to the Bay area, so once more I was able to see more of the countryside. The difference in architecture was again apparent including things like the cemetaries. We drove past working rice paddies...

I arrived in Vietnam fairly late in the afternoon, slightly apprehensive of what the country had to offer. Along the way I had met a variety of people who had visited Vietnam and had very mixed experiences, including people spitting on them. First mission was to get through visa control. Due to the hysteria of swine fever, Vietnam had taken strick precautions. Well they asked you to complete a form asking if you had any of the symptoms- a definite preventive meas...

I probably didn't travel in the most efficient or effective manner but needs must. It took 2 days and flights from Delhi to Mumbai to Singapore to finally reach Hong Kong. It felt like I was entering New York, Chinese style. Arriving late the main priority was to find the hostel in the maze of buildings and eat. The hostel I booked into was in a building called ChungKing Mansions- floor after floor of hostels and guest houses. I am so glad I booked in advance or ...

Nainital was the last stop on my Indian adventure. This hill resort surrounds the green volcanic lake, Naini. It is said to be one of the emerald green eyes of Shiva's wife, Sati. It is a small place, designed for relaxing. The lake certainly was a stunning green, surrounded on all sides by mountains. A cable car takes you up the mountain to about 2270 metres where there is a mini-themed park mainly for kids, and most importantly a bar. However, the cable car st...