Vietnam is stressing me out today. I've been non stop harassed and accosted by motorbike drivers, perved on by sleazes and constantly stared at in Hue. This town is too much! I miss London where people would rather poke their own eye out than meet your gaze. The sleeper train from Hanoi was interesting. Four bunks in a cabin, blaring Vietnamese music on the loudspeaker and surly guards. I was sharing with Will, a neurosurgeon from the UK and two French women....

I dithered around trying to decide if Halong Bay was too touristy, if i should go to other islands, if I should take a trip (aka booze cruise) with the hostel or go it alone. In the end I booked a trip with a company called ethnic travel which was perfect. Halong bay is so beautiful and I was travelling with some lovely people; English teachers in South Korea and a couple on a retirement gap year as well as a french family doing a round the world trip with their ...

I arrived in Vietnam no problem and despite stories of scary visa officers, all was fine and I jumped in my cab to the hostel. Yes, hostel. I thought I wanted to give it a try whilst travelling so why not in Hanoi right? When I arrived, there were A LOT of very young and boisterous people drinking in the bar. Ominous. I was staying in a twelve bed female dorm and immediately met two lovely Canadians and a group of five girls from the UK. Uh oh. We all went for...