So after our homestay experience it was an early start to head towards the Laos/Vietnam boarder. Crossing the boarder was fairly quick and easy. Eventually after a long days drive we arrived in Ninh Binh - where we stayed over night before continuing our bus journey to Halong Bay. Didn't get much of a chance to explore Ninh Binh but it was very noisy with all the traffic and beeping of horns and the streets very dirty - i couldn't wait to leave and disappointed with my first impression of Vietnam. All this changed though as we headed further into Vietnam - the countryside is beautiful and i enjoyed travelling on the bus taking in all the views. (I have found as you travel over land you get to see the real life of these countries) We arrived in Halong Bay at Lunchtime and jumped straigh on board a boat fro an overnight stay cruising through the Bay. First up was lunch then time to chill out for a while and soak up some sun before exploring a cave and then kayaking and swimming. Halong Bay was beautiful and peaceful (apart from all the tourist of course!!) The cabins we stayed in were really comfy and i slept like a baby. The next day we returned to the harbour and caught a bus to Hanoi.

Unfortunately i was not feeling well so once we arrived i headed straight to bed. Late afternoon i was feeling a little better and joined the rest of the group on a city cyclo tour - a great way to see the city and take in the sights - as long as you ignore all the trraffic and horn blasting around you - thought i were going to crash several times!! The Cyclo drivers dropped us at the water puppet theatre and we went in to watch a show. Couldn't understand a thing though think i got the jist of it just by watching!! After this we all headed out to dinner.

The next day we eat breakfast for a cause at the KOTO Resturant. KOTO - Know One Teach One is a resturant where tha staff are disadvantaged young people who are given the oppourtunity and help and support to learn skills to help then get jobs in the hospitality industry. Then we headed out to visit Uncle Ho!! (President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum). I have never seen a que like it. It was that bad we ended up not going in. We did look at the stilt house where he lived, the Presidential Palace where he worked and the Ba Dinh Square where he declared independence in 1945. After, some of us vivited the museum which was packed with pictures and memorabilia about the late president. That afternoon i headed to the war museum - which was very interesting and shocking. That evening we headed to a local resturant where some of the group were very brave and tried alsorts including fried bugs!!! I gave them a miss!!!

The next day we had some free time before catching a bus and then an overnight train to Hue.

Hanoi was a crazy city with lots of traffic, horn blowing and streets like a rat warren so very easy to get lost!!