After Sapa I headed back to Hanoi, to join another tour leaving on the same day to Halong Bay. Unfortunately for me, after the rain and the cold evening in Sapa I came down with pretty bad cold. Yes ok, I got man flu! The first day was spent on a boat sailing around the bay which was really beautiful. However as my man flu worsened I had to retire to my bunk for a marathan sleep. This did mean that I missed out on the kayaking and swimming and an evening of drunken fun and cavorting, which I wasnt too pleased about. However the next morning I felt great, which was pretty good as everyone else had terrible hang overs.

We transfered from the boat to a swish hotel on Cat Ba Island, one of the best I have stayed in so far! Then went for a short trek in the Cat Ba national park. The view from the top was certainly a sight to see. In the afternoon I was free to explore the Island, which is really quiet. The beach is lovely and I spent a good few hours here doing nothing but catch rays! I thought it best to have a quiet day before heading back to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.