Hi everyone from a very very wet Hue!!! We are now in vietnam incase you hadn't picked up on that!! We actually flew in on Beth's birthday after a 12 hour night bus from Chang Mai, so Hanoi and its accompanying crazy motorcyclists were a bit of a shock to the system after our relatively sedate days in northern Thailand! Crossing a road in Hanoi is like playing space invaders and avoiding the bullets!! However, proceeding undeterred we made the most of our first day there and with it being Beth's birthday, we headed to a very nice restaurant for dinner and then hit some bars after that! The second day was a bit of mission to cram in as many sites as possible in what were swealtering temperatures in the city (40c and 70 relative humidity). We started at a very interesting museum about life in vietnam through the ages and then moved onto the temple of literature. . . . . to any of you thinking of visiting here i would give it a miss if i was you, the main attraction consists of a collection of concrete turtles!!!! We then went for a walk past the mausoleum where Ho chi Minh rests and unfortunately could not get access because we had come too late which was a real disappointment, and then finished up at a lake with a ride on the swans! (in Mrs Walkers honour!!!!) The next day saw us booked on a trip to halong bay and cat ba national park!!! Once again these arranged tours proved to be the best places to meet fellow travellers and it wasnt long until we were nattering away to a couple who work for six months in different places all around the world and were currently based in Singapore. We spent the rest of the day visiting caves, swimming at a tiny beach and sunbathing on deck. The next day included a huge climb to the summit of a mountain for a panoramic view of the bay and then a trip to a beach for the afternoon! We're now in Hue having caught a 15 hour night bus here! It has rained for most of the day and although we resiliently marched to the citadel with our latest crew, our enthusiasm soon wained!! The similarities between now and a rainy welsh holiday are quite striking!! (playing cards and waiting for clothes to dry) The next few days should see us move onto Hoi An where we have been reliably informed that i can have a suit fitted and made for only 20 dollars so there could be a package arriving home soon! From there we continue down the coast finishing with Ho chi Minh city or Saigon as it is probably better known!!! Hope everyone is well at home . . . . Lots of Love Rich and Beth xxx