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On Thursday (7/03/13) we got a cyclo to take us to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum - which proved tricky as he tried cahrging us 70,000 each rather that the 70,000 agreed!! We were helped out by a guy who rode past and settled the bill for us and then just drove off -we were speachless! The Mausoleum was so surreal, we queued up uniformly along the parade ground and shuffled past the guards, who were dresses in the most amazing, pristine white uniforms. The Australian group behind us provided a running commentry of how it looked like Dumbledore's tomb and how the elder wand was definitely inside!!!
Once inside it was so cold and there were yet more guards ushering us along. The pace quickned as we past his body. He was on a podium surrounded by guards and the atmosphere was eerie but respectful. The body was amazingly well preserved - the hair in his beard was still whispy and grey.
We apent the afternoon walking back through the streets of Hanoi and in the evening we visited the Water Puppet Theatre. The performance told the story of the Vietnamese people with music, singing and theses sloating wooden puppets.
Next day we were up early (6.45) to catch our bus to Halonf Bay. After a sticky 4 hour journey we arrived at "the Treasure Junk" which was to be our home for the nexy 24 hours. Whilst on board we has the most amazing food, 5 course lunch and dinner, beautiful cabins (with a wet room) and the cutest guide Fo. First activity was a kayak around the bay - which was BEAUTIFUL!! The waters were turquiose and the limestone outcrops towered over us. The sea was totally flat and it was silent except for the birds - literally paradise! When we got back we were offered a swim but noone fancied it, however I was one of three to jump off the boat from the deck, which was soooo scary, but amazing.
After dinner we played jenga in front of the Vietnam episode of Top Gear. Straight to bed as we had an early start in the morning. We woke up to have a Thai Chi lesson on the deck followed by a tour of the floating village. We were rowed arond between the houses and saw the pearl farms. Back on board for the buffet brunch and then it was time to get back to dry land for our bus back to Hanoi.
The cruise was a whistle stop tour but one of the mose amazing and beualtiful experiences, 100% worth the money!
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