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Determined to save some money and not get ripped off by tour operators, we booked a bus to ha long bay to then organise things when we arrived.. The 4 hour bus journey got us to ha long bay for about 11.30, we were immediatly approached by tour touts, selling us trips around the islands.. still determind to do things our way, we caught a taxi to the town to find a tour office and look for a better offer there, we ended up however in the hotel of one of the touts who caught us earlier that day, realising we were better off trying to get on a boat that day and not waste a day in the town we booked up there for a 3 day 2 night package that included one night stay on cat ba island.. with a trek in a national park, kayacking, one night on the boat including all food and accomadation.
we were rushed for time as the boat had just departed so jumped in a taxi with our vietnamese del boy tour operator to catch a different boat for lunch and a trp to the caves, which would then catch up with our boat for the rest of the trip.. luckily we wernt stuck on that boat for long, it was nice but the company was a little bland to say the least.. after our visit to the cave we pulled up along side two baots, we were all hoping it was the furthest boat that had some life to it, by that i mean people drinking beer on the top deck..!! result, we got our bags and literally walked the thin plank and hoped over a boat to ours.. we were later be told by an older couple who we saw in a bar, that two chillian guys who were on our boat originally were a little jealous of our abandoning ship..
the evening cruise took us through the most amasing scenery, limestone karsts dominated the skyline amongst the blue sky and calm sea...!! beautiful..
cat ba island was our home for the night, the only inhabited island amongst the many, the secenery was that of jurassic park, or the jungle in lost... we neared the town center and small shops and homes became abundant untill we were in a quite developed town. our hotel was basic, and damp.. but the view was amazing.. we had dinner and took a walk around and eventually sat on the street with the locals enjoying a few beers.
bright and early the next day we donned our hiking shoes and were taken to the foot of a small hill/mountain. a sweaty hour and a half later we were at the top.. again faced by the most amasing views... green rolling mountain, and a welcomed silence. a complete contrast form han oi..!
on returing to the hotel we had the afternoon free.. so we all decided to go to the beach.. WOW.. beautiful small cove , golden sand, clear water and more blue skys.. the only complaint being that the water was too warm!! oh and the fact we only had about an hour there.. before we headed back to get the boat for our night at sea. as the sun was setting we were told our kayaking session would be now and not in the morning, so we hopped out and paddeled around the karsts avoiding ferrys and eventually found a small secluded area only accessable through a small cave type opening in the side of a wall... bliss.. tired arms and running short of time we headed back to the boat for the night
having made friends from the trek and the beach, we had picked up some vodka so we could all have a drink on the boat. that night we sat on the top looking at the stars playing the guitar, listening to music and having some drinks.!! its a hard life..!!
the following day was a little rushed, about 2 hours sailing took us to the mainland but not before a small break to swim, where everyone was jumping off the boat, except me and ed it seemed.
back to ha long where we would head back to han oi after lunch.
we headed straight back to the hotel we stayed in before, but this time with another 12 in tow due to us telling them of a juccussi bath and internet in the room.
in hanoi we booked an open bus ticket that would take us south to saigon (ho chi min city) via hue, hoian na trang and finally saigon.
10 of us got on the same sleeper bus destined for hue. the bus had three rows of bunks, seemingly comfortable, but this wasnt the case... early the next day we arrived safely in Hue.
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