Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hanoi day 2
After a good night sleep we went out to wander the streets. We walked through the old town and walked past the hoai kien lake and the temple situated on the lake. We had read about this Water puppet show and decided to try to get some tickets as we were in the area. We got to the box office and although it said that they were fully booked we decided to have a go and we managed to get some tickets for the 21:15 show. After we got the tickets we tried to find some sandals for Martin. We then discovered that men over here do not have size 44 feet. The biggest we could find were 42!! We went for a drink in a bar overlooking the city before heading back to the hotel to pack for our trip to Ha Long bay.
So after getting our trip bags ready, we headed out for some food and then to see the show.At a whopping 40000 VND (about £1.40) we weren't really sure how good it was likely to be but it turned out to be really good fun and entertaining.You can see some of the pictures as it's fairly hard to describe.Apparently, not all people thought the same as us - some annoying Americans were sat next to us discussing how much money they would be getting during the day with their 5 shows and charging all these people (about 5060) the 40000VND or 60000VND. Astonishing considering there was about 20 people in the show, including a band and 2 singers.Marie and I decided against making best buddies with them!!
Day 3 ha Long Bay
An early start for the first of our 2 trips.This one was the 3 day, 2 night trip to Ha Long bay, which is an Unesco world heritage site and one that they are trying to get registered as a wonder of the world.Our trip included one night stay on a junk boat and one night on an island named Cat Ba. So after a nice 3.5 hour drive, in which we got a good insight into the people we would be spending time with, we arrived at the port where there were absolutely loads of people and junk boats.Thankfully the guide led us onto a really nice junk boat in quick time and before we knew it, we were sat, eating nice food (masses of it) whilst sailing out into the picturesque bay.
After a couple of hours of sailing, we arrived at our first sight, which was the Sung Sot caves and got our first taste of people who live and work in the bay.There were 2 main caves, with one leading to another and a lot of stalagmites and stigmatises.Even though it was a massive tourist trap, with a heavy queue to get in and go round, the caves were enormous and very interesting and nice to see.The guide kept trying to tell us that certain rock formations looked like wolves, Buddha, tortoise etc but I think we all agreed that we may need to be a little more intoxicated if we were to agree!! But it was all good fun.
After that, we headed over to this small island named Ti Top where we had a chance to walk to the top and get some nice views across the bay and all the islands.Marie and I in typical fashion pretty much ran up the steps and made it back down in equal time, so the opportunity to take a quick swim was one that couldn't be passed up.It wasn't great weather, about 22C and overcast, but the water was refreshing and it was great to finally go for our first swim of the trip (hopefully lots more to come!).We got talking to a nice Dutch guy named Johan who was doing the same trip as us (everyone else was doing 2 days and 1 night, so had a different itinerary in the afternoon) and he was travelling for 6 weeks on his own.
After we got back to the boat, we had a quick shower before heading off for our quick lesson in how to make fresh spring rolls, made up of salad, prawns, noodles and pork rolled in rice paper and dipped in a fish sauce.Was a laugh watching some people make a complete mess of it but still seemed to taste just as good and made for lightening the mood for the forthcoming evening.
After dinner, which consisted of lots of seafood (Martin has decided that prawns aren't so bad but needs some practice on opening the b*****s), and a few beers the group got chatting and we had a great evening with a lot of laughs. A couple of older American corn farmers (one was 77) were lively with their stories about how they had lived in South America for numerous of years and gave us some good tips on what to do and what to miss.One was quite happy to talk about the other one's passion for the ladies and how he wasn't unaccustomed to paying for them. He continued to tell us that during this trip he had fallen in love with a Thai lady (where they just come from and where going back to) and a Vietnamese girl he had just met.A group of Croatians included themselves and everyone was really nice and all up for a good laugh.
Day 4 Ha Long Bay
First thing in the morning after breakfast (becoming accustomed to a lot more food than usual at this point!!) we, along with Johan were transferred onto a smaller junk boat as the others headed back to the port.We were taken to an island named Viet Hai where we hopped onto a bicycle for a 7km round trip to the small rural village, also named Viet Hai.The previous day had been tourist heaven but the morning started with us cycling along with no one else around us and it made for a quiet appreciation of the beautiful landscape and views.We headed to the town for a drink as the weather today had turned to being warm and sunny, before taking a walk into the forest and then heading back to the port (where we met lots of other tourists!!!But still nice to be in front of everyone).
The boat headed back out into the bay and stopped at one of the floating villages where we got the chance to change into a kayak and paddle round the village and see them close up.It's all about fishing for something and now selling things to the tourist but it was good to see the way people live in these villages (including many dogs and cats) and the fishing techniques farm fishing that they do.After 45 minutes hard work (Martin's back didn't enjoy this seating position!) we headed back to the junk boat who headed out to a quiet part in the bay with a nice island close by.They geared us up with snorkels, masks, goggles as we wanted and left us to swim.At 6 metres deep, it meant the only way to enter in Martins eyes was off the roof of the boat, with Marie opting for the main deck level and Johan being the girl and sliding in off the front!
After another good, massive lunch we headed over to the biggest inhabited island named Cat Ba where we would be staying for the evening.The island is mainly a national park but having arrived at only 3pm, we were taken and stayed in the main area only and didn't get a chance to see much of it (we were pretty knackered as well from the early start and active day) so we rested and then headed out for a wander along the front, where there were numerous bars and restaurants.After food at the hotel, we met Johan for a quick beer.
Day 5 Ha Long Bay Sapa
Another early start and back onto the small junk boat for a 2 hour cruise to meet the bigger junk boat, who would then take us back to the port.It was great just to chill on the boat and watch the islands go by.We joined the bigger boat and had a chat with the people that had stayed on there the previous night, before heading back to the port (via another boat as it turned out ours was broken!!!), eating some more food and getting driven back up to Hanoi.
We arrived around 5pm, which gave us around 3 hours to freshen up, re pack our bags, get some food before being picked up to go on a 3 night, 2 day tour to Sapa, which is in the mountains north of Hanoi near the China border and where some traditional tribes still live.
The train was ok.The cabin seemed to be fairly new and we shared with a German couple who were nice (and safe!) but not the smoothest or quietest of rides, so it wasn't exactly a great night's sleep.
We arrived early and were taken to the hotel.It was right in the heart of the city and the Love market, so with a while before the tour started we headed out to have a look around and see if there were any water proof trousers (as it was rainy and much colder).The tour guide turned up and was actually from one of the villages (spoke very good English) and we got a small tribe of women girls walking and talking with us (you knew their chance to sell was at some point!!) The first tour was to see one of the closesttribal villages to Sapa and was part of a 7km trek.It is amazing to see how these people live and the techniques that they still use in everyday life.It was clearly a poor tribe, even though they tried hard to sell you everything and many peoplechildren walked around in ragged clothes and no shoes.One kid had great delight in being able to play with a massive dead rat and 2 dead mice!!! Slightly different to the world we are used to.
The afternoon was left as free, so we headed out to have a look around the town but with this not taking too long, we went for a coffee!!
We soon found out some pretty big downsides to the hotel, one being the few small cockroaches ever present in the dining room and more importantly the lack of heating!!It was about 12C in the day and a lot less at night, so with no heating, we ended up using 2 duvets (thin ones) and the blanket that was in the wardrobe. It's not a hotel I'd recommend!!
Day 6 Sapa
Today was a longer trek, around 12km's to see two different tribes (one more Vietnamese and one more Chinese).We'd become friendly with 2 couples in the group, one from Spain and one from the UK, who were both travelling for a while, so as we plodded along and had a good laugh with them all.Might even be able to meet up with the English couple again in Thailand and South America.The trekking was at times pretty difficult.With the prior day's rain we were taken along very slippery and muddy tracks.Some were very thin and made for precarious walking.Thankfully we were in our boots but others were in trainers and made for an extremely difficult walk, though the tribe of womengirls were always there to give a guiding hand.The villages that we saw were much richer than the previous day's and we enjoyed a simple lunch.The Vietnamese one were trying to sell all the time and were very in your face about it, whereas the Chinese didn't.Turned out that they were all pretty well off (for tribal village) so didn't have to sell.The trek took about 5 hours but was fascinating.
In the evening, we headed back to the train.Turned out that on the way out, we did have a nice new carriage because we turned up to probably the complete opposite.Marie started with her health and safety checks and found two small cockroaches in the bed (great!!) so spent pretty much the whole night cocooned in her sleep sheet (over her face as well) and no sleep.
Day 7 Sapa HCMC
Day 7 Hanoi Ho chi Minh City
Started with a 5am start.We arrived at the station, waited around for our ride back to the hotel until no one was leftand realised there was no one.Turned out the women forgot to inform us of this! So we walked back to the hotel, being put off by the harassing taxi drivers who clearly wanted the chance to take the white man's money and as much as possible of it!
We spoke to the hotel about the trip and was pretty much told that's it.We left for the airport with a bit of a bad taste in our mouth.From a person who was willing to do anything and everything for us when we arrived to pretty much wanting us to leave at the end because she had taken as much money off us as she could and there were other people she could target.It was a bit of a shame.
Anyway, we flew down to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and took the bus for a whole 30p into town.We headed to our hotel, which was right on the main junction of party streets but our room was probably the best yet and was really quiet.We headed out for a walk around and to get some food and soon realised that there is lots more happening in this city and was going to be fun for a few days.
Oh, and we met Ian and Rachel at the airport in Hanoi before we flew out. It was a shame we could not stay to have a proper catch up with them. It was good to see some familiar faces.
Day 8 HCMC
Today was the day for sorting and exploring.We started by booking trips for the next 2 days and the overnight bus to Siem Reap before heading over to the Laos embassy to get our visa.After the visa we went over to the Reunification Palace but was told that they had closed for lunch and would re open at 1pm.A booming café overlooking the park looked a decent option to waste an hour, so we decided to head over.Unfortunately it didn't go that well.Martin was responsible for crossing the roads and we had turned into a junior school party, holding hands every time!!So the road was 4 lanes, we headed over 2 and then 3.As we did, a van slowed down in the fourth so Martin aired the words "let's go".Turns out this wasn't a great plan as a moped came shooting up the side of the van (next to the kerb) and Marie was in its path.She took a beating.Now writing this we can be thankful that it was nothing more than many bruises but it shocked us both (Marie more of course).Marie has a massive bruise on the thigh and the arm, a small one under her chin and a couple of scratches on a leg and knee.
After stopping for a long time, to ice and then calm in the café, we found out the palace was closed that afternoon(by a man offering a trip for the small sum of €250) so headed back to the hotel but stopped on the way to look round the Ben Thanh market, which sold everything and all fakes!
The highlight of the day though was collecting our washing which we had put in the night before and consisted of 90% of our clothes.For a whole £2.40 it was washed and dried.Happy Days.
Day 9 Mekong Delta
We booked a full day trip today to the Mekong Delta, which is the most important river in this part of the world as it provides water for all the rice crops and fish for the people.The bus there took a couple of hours before we got transferred over to a small boat, which took us along the delta and over to a small island called the tortoise island.The Mekong was vast and there were many boats chugging along as well as being parked up and it gave a real sense of how important it is.
We had lunch before we got back onto the boat to head further along the river and into this canal where we stopped to visit a coconut sweet factory.They still used traditional techniques and along with the sweets, you could get oil and anything you wanted made from the shell.The sweets were good, and at 70p for a whole packet and a journey back to HCMC and then to Siem Reap, it was a done deal.
After this we were transferred onto a small (4 person) boat with a man who took us along the canal even further (like a gondola).It was so peaceful and very pleasant.We were taken to a café where we were enlightened by some traditional songs of the Mekong Delta people (from that area).The guide told us that everyone in the villages around here could sing and let's say this wasn't entirely true - the 2 women and one man weren't exactly great but it was an insight into their lives and ways.
We then headed back to the bus for the journey back to HCMC.With the massive amount of restaurants and bars, it was easy to get good food every night and you could drink for as long as you wanted…
PHOTOS FROM VIETNAM CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/559482632
Day 10 Cu Chi Tunnels
Today was a half day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels.From our previous trips and reading, we were updating our knowledge on the build up to and the war with America.The tunnels were so interesting and gave us a real feel for what the Vietnamese put themselves through not to just surrender and be taken over by the Americans.
We were taken round the entire sight, with exhibits on the massive amounts of traps and weapons used, the uniforms and details on how the tunnels were built and why.
The pinnacle of the trip came just before the end when you can go down a tunnel, which is 100 metres long and has been widened for the tourist.When you think widened it actually only meant to 1.2 metres height and kept the original 90cm width.It was probably around 3-5 metres below surface level (we seemed to jump down a few times) and there was very little light.Marie found a buddy who had a cunningly brought along a flash light.As we made our way along the tunnels, there was a drop followed by either a straight on or right turn.Marie disappeared ahead and thankfully Martin just caught sight of her turn to the right before being left to fumble along this stretch in complete darkness.Marie later enlightened with the words "I had to make a decision, wait for you or go with the flash light".Nice. I did find her as I bumped into her bum with my face.
The tunnels were a great experience but not one that we would want to do too often!We headed back to the hotel and then out to the Reunification Palace where we managed to get the last tour of day.It was a fantastic building and heavily linked to the war with America and made for an interesting hour.
We headed back and got ready for the bus journey to Siem Reap which started at mid night.
- comments