Did you know that Facebook has been banned by the Vietnamese authorities since 2009? I have been trying to access FB to email friends but had no luck! Can only update my status via the blogging software. Interesting! Just spent the afternoon walking through the Forbidden City in Hue. Wow, a HUGE Unesco World Heritage site full of temples, palaces and gardens. Tomorrow we are heading out on a boat trip along the Perfume River to a Pagoda and then cycling along the...

Aaaah yes, the ubiquitous toilet shot. 13 hours on an overnight Vietnamese train. Need I say more? I think the photo speaks a thousand words...

Just returned from a Ha Long Bay tour with Ha Long Party Cruise where we floated from one beautiful island to the next. Met some lovely fellow travellers, went kayaking (had a near collision with a junk boat that was hurtling towards us!), explored a couple of caves, went nightfishing for squid and learnt how to make Vietnamese spring rolls (mmmm, possibly the most delicious we've ever eaten). All in the space of 24 hours! We're just catching our breath after a h...

Early morning flight to Hanoi with Air Asia. Only manage to get 3 hrs sleep due to bad jet lag and singing geckos! Cup of coffee perked me right up. Wendy had a good strong cup of tea. Happy to start our journey to Vietnam.

It's difficult to describe the craziness of sights, sounds and smells that is Hanoi. Cars and scooters weaving through crowded streets - hooting constantly (and you'd better get outta the way!). We're staying at the Hanoi San Souci in the old part of town - nestled amongst the street vendors and local take outs - where people cook food in their own homes in rooms facing the narrow alleys. I think I'm going back to being a vegetarian! Tomorrow we head out on 1-nig...