Day 26 - Unfortunately it was a very early start today as we have to fly to Luang Prabang across the border in Laos. Our taxi was booked for 7am so we wandered down to reception at 06:40 to checkout. After we'd done this, the manager offered us breakfast which was good as it didn't open until 7am. A quick omelette and it was 07:05 and no sign of the taxi. 07:15 and still no sign, cue some angry phone calls from the hotel manager, Ms Tran (legend) to the taxi driv...

Day 25 - An early wake up for Ti Chi at 06:30 on the top deck. About 8 of us managed to drag ourselves out of bed to take part. A great way to start the day, as the sun rose between the islands. After the Ti Chi class it was down for breakfast which again was another feast. Every time we ate a piece of toast it was refilled along with eggs, salad, the list goes on! With two people missing from our table, after a while staring at the two eggs left I decided they w...

Day 24 - Alice's B'day and the engagement day (but not what you think!) And where better to spend it. An early start as we were off to Halong Bay for our 2 day / 1 night boat trip around the islands. A nice full breakfast this time during which Alice was presented with a bunch of roses by the hotel staff which was a nice surprise. A 4 hour bus ride including a diversion around a huge traffic jam and also an overturned truck further down the route. In England th...

Day 23 - The day we saw a dead guy!! Not a great nights sleep due to door to the balcony not having much of a seal round it and the Vietnamese city folk not going to bed until about 2am and being up at 05:30! Decent breakfast selection but only noticed the full works after we'd ordered! Then it out onto the mean streets! We decided we wanted to visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum which is where the great leader is embalmed for all to see. After about a 30 minute wa...

Day 22 -Woken up by the Vietnamese Gareth Gates outside our bungalow at 05:30 so there was no chance of us missing our bus to Hanoi. Why the school kids have to walk 400 metres from their own accommodation to have a sing off I have no idea! Breakfast at the restaurant with an omelette and french bread, ok but not amazing. Finished breakfast at about 07:45 and 'someone' was worried we may miss our 09:00 bus to Hanoi so instead of waiting for a lift at 08:15 to th...