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Hi Everyone!! Im updating you all on more of our adventures! We are having the best time ever!! This blog is all about the 4 Hs - Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi and Halong Bay!
Hoi An was such a pretty little town, I would describe it as small little streets full of tailors (ive never seen so many tailors, shop after shop was a tailor) everybody goes to Hoi An to get suits made but we didnt have time or really feel like we needed one! Hoi An is by the river side and the streets are lined with Lanterns that at night are really pretty. The river had a pretty little bridge full of lanterns and it was really nice to go and eat by the river at night. We got to Hoi An in the middle of a storm and it just rained all day which wasnt very good so we entertained ourselves by getting a pedicure! We didnt spend much time in Hoi An, even though it was a very pretty little place there wasnt a lot to see or do so we just mooched around taking in the place. Thats all I really have to say on Hoi An!
We then travelled to Hue which wasnt a long bus journey, we met up with some lads that we met in Cambodia, which was nice to see some friendly faces and we enjoyed a night out with them. Hue again was just a stop over place to hanoi, there wasnt much there. We went to see the Citadel - which to be honest I couldnt really tell you what its all about even now, I think some emperor used to live there! We also went to see a tomb of an emporer! We are trying with the cultural stuff but most of the time there is hardly any information at the sights so its hard to know what your actually looking at! Its still nice to say we have been though!!!
We then got an overnight bus to Hanoi, which wasnt that bad even though it was a long journey! We didnt really rate Hanoi and the only reason we went there was to get to Halong Bay! Hanoi was just another city and not a patch on Saigon! We got there and booked straight on a trip to Halong Bay but then because of a storm our trip got cancelled and we ended up having to spend another day in Hanoi and wait for the storm to pass! We decided to go to the Ho Chi Minh museum - which again we found not much information about what we were looking at! On the way back from the museum we got in a taxi to our hotel and I was sat in the front watching the meter race up and up so I questioned our driver and said we are getting out we are not paying that! At which point he pulled over and got really aggressive, he wanted us to pay about 10 pounds which is ridiculous! So I put my foot down and was like Im not being ripped off again (even though amy was ready to pay him) in the end after arguing with the guy and he was getting quite aggressive we got out and managed to get away with paying about 1 pound! Which even though scary I was quite pleased I had put my foot down!! After that little trauma we decided to find the shopping mall and go to the cinema, which was nice to have a bit of the western world again! The next day the trip was back on and we headed to Halong Bay!!
Saving the best till last - Halong Bay! 1 word - WOW!!!! Our trip was 1 night 2 days staying on the boat over night in Halong Bay. We got to the boat and we had a good group of girls on our boat which was fun. We sailed out and the sights were just amazing! Ive never seen anything like it! The limestone peaks coming out of the water was just a sight il never forget! We sailed to a cave and got to walk through it. Ive never seen a cave like it, just amazing! The photos dont do it justice! After that we sailed off and got into a smaller boat so we could go swimming. We were taken through a cave and it then opened out into a lagoon for us to go swimming! At this point I thought Im in Vietnam in Halong Bay swimming in a lagoon - wow - I Felt so lucky!!! I think me and amy shared a good hug at that point because it was just so special! After that we spent the night on the boat watching the sunset and more swimming and jumping off boat! The next day we went kayaking in the morning before heading back to the mainland to get our bus back to Hanoi. Halong Bay was just the best experience ever! And watching the sunset over the peaks was again spectacular!!! The actual boat trip was basic but we got what we paid for and we wernt there for the trip we were there to see Halong Bay and just what an experience that was!!!
We got back to Hanoi but we were late back from our trip and we had to get our 22hour bus to lao, the bus left at 5 and it was now 6 so we thought we had missed our bus! But o no.....we got off the trip bus and literally got a helmet plonked on our heads, amy was thrown onto the back of one motorbike and me on another! The next thing I see is amy race off into the manic traffic of Hanoi! At this point I thought omg and literally wrapped my arms around my driver as we sped off chasing our bus through Hanoi City!!!!! It was definatly an experience and we definatly finished off Vietnam in true vietnamese style! At one point I thought I was going to be on the back of the bike all the way to Lao as I was on it for ages! Lets just say I was so releaved to see Amys face when we got to the bus! As we were late for the bus this meant we got the worst seats! I ended up at the back of the bus inbetween 2 local men for 22 hours! Lets just say it got cosy! But I just shoved my Ipod in and got on with it!
We are now in Lao in Vientiane! We are leaving for Vang Vieng in about 2 hours! We only have 1 week in Lao - but theres only 1 thing we are really here for and thats TUBING!!! O yea!!!!!
Thats all for now! Vietnam was amazing and sad that we have left but cant wait to explore Lao!!!
Love to everyone Hannah x x x
- comments
mum This all sounds amazing. What an experience! Well done for holding your own, but I think I'm with Amy! If the guy's getting aggressive just give him the money. Love all the pics and can imagine that they don't do the whole experience justice. Just great to hear from you. Sat in wine bar in Morzine on your laptop reading this. Dad trying to get used to his Blackberry!
Amy Rol. Hey Han, haven't had much time lately to read any of your blogs but i'm just having a little 'catch-up' session! Looks like you're having a fab time :-) xxxx
A. Janet Your hair raising experiences make our jaunt to the Yorkshire coast seem very tame! Glad you're enjoying it all.
Linda Smith Hi Hannah - sent you a message before I looked at your photos properly - the water doesn't look brown on your album!! It all looks amazing