We travelled by car today to Tam Coc (Halong Bay on land). It was about a two hour drive across the Red River plains in drab grey winter weather so not very interesting. We had a good guide and driver though. Passing Ninh Binh city we first stopped at a temple complex which had been built in the16th century to mark the site of Vietnam Nam's first capital 1,000 years ago when they first obtained independence from the Chinese. On to lunch where the highlight of the...

We rendezvoused with the travel agent who has made our bookings in Vietnam and (some in) Lao to pay him and arrange for day trip tomorrow to Tam Coc which is the land version of Halong Bay. Promenades south to what is known as the French quarter, location of the Hanoi Opera, Metropole hotel etc. Outside the Metropole is "the" place for local brides to have their pictures taken on the big day and it's a laugh to watch them striking their adoring poses. In between ...

Definitely due a sleep-in today. Staying at a nice little hotel in the old quarter near the Hoan Kiem lake with a restaurant on the top floor with a view to the lake on one side and to the river on the other. After a leisurely breakfast we wandered around the old quarter and practiced our road crossing skills. Watching and joining in the chaos of Hanoi traffic is great fun. No one ever stops and bike riders never put a foot down. Traffic lights appear to be a sug...

Got up late. Scott Market closed on Mondays so no chance for any last minute shopping. Quick turn around the city's Muslim quarter before the heat drove us back to the sanctuary of the hotel. Spent the day in the opulent air conditioned lobby with free wifi before our transfer to the airport at 4 pm. The plane was late arriving at Yangon so we didn't take off until 8 pm, an hour late. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi was interesting! It is the only airport wh...

Yet another pre-dawn start. We have seen more sunrises on this tour than we have in the last decade. A comment on our fellow travellers in Myanmar is in order. We have decided to change the name of our tour to the "Seniors Sunrise Tour of SE Asia". I think because of the high cost of travel here and the fact that the country has recently opened up after being closed for so long all the seniors are rushing to get here before their travelling days are over. We are ...