Had a good and busy day in Hanoi yesterday....In the morning had a visit to the Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Complex - in the tradition of Lenin, Stalin and Mao the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice. And quite oddly despite his will requesting cremation Ho Chi Minh's embalmed corpse gets a three month holiday to Russia for yearly maintenance! Urgh. There was a lot information to take in and it make...

Didn't feel the need to update you on Hue as there was nothing to tell. Spent two days doing very little - although the Foprbidden City was pretty cool. Arrived in Hanoi (the capital of vietnam) for just a few hours ago - after a 16 hour overnight bus journey (with one stop i might add!!!?) - and have already managed to find a lovely french style cafe serving the best hot chocolate ever so.... am already liking the place!! he he. Not quite as modern or wealthy...

O God I love this place. It is such a charming little town. It should definately be on Lonely Planets list of places to visit in Vietnam. Will definately return here with more money and an empty suitcase!!!! There is nothing not to like and somehow we have managed to stay in a four star hotel for just 10USD a night too! Thing is its probably gonna bankrupt me if we don't move on soon. The suit, Vietnamese style dress, trousers and shoes are absolutely perfect so...

A long and noisy 16 hour over-night bus journey from Nha Trang meant we arrived in Hoi An at 6.30am this morning. Have already suceeded in turning David into a honorary girlfriend as I dragged him round all the lovely silk shops, shoe shops and one beauty saloon!! Had my first experience of threading (not very pleasent at all but at least my eyebrows look neat now!). Its pretty nice here - we are staying in a seriously nice 4 star hotel with swimming pool....

Had a very realxing day today with a swim in the south china sea after breakfast and a visit to a spa for a hot mineral mud bath. Am gonna get a massage later for a whopping one pound sterling.... Before you get all jealous i should add that it is well deserved as saturday was hell...trekked up Mt Langbiang which is 2169m to the summit. It was a tough climb - just 5 out of 8 made it. And I had a s***ty cold to make it even worse! When the guide saw a snake a...