Today was our day trip out of town to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc. Hoa Lu was the capital city of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between 968 and 980 AD and ancient sanctuaries and tombs can still be seen today. Apart from the historical importance, the area is naturally beautiful, referred to many as the “dry Halong Bay”, with limestone peaks and fertile green valleys. The tour we took included being rowed along the Boi River, which makes for a truly unforgettable ...

Today was our day trip out of town to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc. Hoa Lu was the capital city of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between 968 and 980 AD and ancient sanctuaries and tombs can still be seen today. Apart from the historical importance, the area is naturally beautiful, referred to many as the “dry Halong Bay”, with limestone peaks and fertile green valleys. The tour we took included being rowed along the Boi River, which makes for a truly unforgettable ...

Although there is only a three hour time difference and I usually laugh in the face of jet-lag, I'll be b*****ed if I can get those three hours back. If I wake up again at 5am then that's it, I'll have to drink myself to sleep. Got organised this morning & went down stairs for brekkie, not the buffet style but in the Hotel Elegance 4 they had made to order. Went the standard fried number and will eye off the French toast tomorrow. Binny & I were splitti...

After a good nights sleep and great buffet breakie at the First Hotel it was time to check out and head to Ho Chi Minh airport for our 10.20am flight to Hanoi. It was a good opportunity for Steve & Tonya to see how crazy the traffic is as when we arrived it was under the cover of night. The drive is usually only 10 mins but we must have been in peak hour and it was pretty crazy. If the streets are full then just take it to the footpath! That's what the locals...

Long day on the old Russel Coit in the plane but have landed safe at Ho Chi Minh City. Arrived 9.05pm local time which is about 12.05 Syd time so we are well tired. I have noticed there are a bunch of Karaoke joins near here, I am super keen to go smash a few and have a sing song but I should get some rest. Off to Hanoi in the morning. The hotel we are at (The First Hotel) seems nice, friendly staff & all. We wont get to know the place too well as we fly out ...