Capn Ned

Wednesday 19th March: Trip to Halong bay today about three hours through great expanses of rice fields. Sheer numbers of ppl working in the fields is amazing. Water buffalo pulling ploughs through the mud tended by farmers walking behind in water up to their knees. Traffic is hectic as per usual. Never ceases to amaze me how much stuff they can carry on one little motor-bike. Family of 5, fruit and veges, construction material, freshly killed pigs, cages of chickens you name it. Arrive at Halong bay marina. Hundreds of junks of all sizes, beautiful elaborate floating works of art. We have our own big junk just to ourselves. There are officially more crew than passengers. Halong bay is breathtaking...it has a mystical grandness about it which is impossible to describe. The huge number of boats ... read more

Sunday 16th March: Took bike tour ofneighbouring traditional village today. Very interesting and lots of fun. Met local family and sat down with them for a chat ...of sorts. No-one could understand each other but still good. Tried freshwater snails. Monday 17th March: Leave Hoi An for Marble mountain. Intricate marble carvings and impressive Buddhist pagoda. Very unique place with fantastic views of China beach. On to China beach where local girls tried to sell us stuff ad nausem..had to tell them to go away (in the nicest way possible of course) Bus to Danang where we took another market walk before going to airport to wait for flight to Hanoi. Arrived in Hanoi and booked in to hotel. Very busy city, seems harsher than the South but the difference is good. Took walk down to ... read more

Saturday March 15th: After fantastic walking tour of Hoi An with Chinese temples and markets as well as other architectural points of interest we went to a nearby restaurant to do our Vietnamese cooking class. Turned out to be a great highlight with our chef being a real character and obviously passionate for food. We cooked 5 x dishes and the meals were excellent. Came back to hotel and took in some interesting VN karaoke of sorts before going to bed. Sunday 16March: Free day to shop and shop....and shop, bought some terrific stuff and took in the culture of Hoi An. Doing bike trip this arv with Hai (tour guide) ... read more

Saturday 15th March: Train ride from Nha Trang to Danang was a real cultural experience to say the least. We had a sleeper cabin to ourselves which I thought was comfortable enough but the girls were unimpressed. Particularly mummy who thought it was all a bit too smelly and dirty. Anyhow we got to Danang in around 9 hours then took our bus to Hoi An where we settled into a hotel for a few hours before re-locating to another one The Hoi An which will be our home for the next 2 days....more later... read more

Friday March 14: Went to Vinpearl land today. An amazing place accessible only by ferry or cable car. We took the cable car which is an engineering feat in itself stretching 3.3km across the sea (longest across sea cable car setup in the world) Vinpearl has to be the best kept secret in Vietnam. It has water slide rides and other amusements as good as the Gold Coast as well as beaches and views you would not believe. An under water world to challenge the Sydney aquarium and everything is so clean, tidy and new. As with all this style amusement parks things were a bit tacky but we had loads of fun. The whole day including cable car there and back, access to all rides and under water world cost the equivalent of $15 each. ... read more

Thursday 13th March: Putting info in while I have free access to a computer in the hotel. We were taken on an island cruise on an old traditional Vietnamese boat where we anchored and went snorkelling for an hour or so before enjoying another unbelievable meal prepared by the boat crew. Nha Trang is a fantastic place with heaps to do and things are so cheap. We have done lots and lots of walking which can be difficult when the cyclo drivers want to take you for a tour of the town everywhere you look. The people of Vietnam are extremely gentle and accomodating and we have not felt at all threatened. We can walk the streets any time in safety although we are careful and trying not to look too vulnerable. Went to the Sailing ... read more

Arrived at Ho Chi Min city at about 7pm on March 8th. Bus to Hotel...traffic is unbelievable. A bit like organised chaos but it seems to work. I've never seen so many motor cycles at once ever before. Went to a nice little restaurant for dinner...food is magnificent. Sunday 9th March: Free morning to catch our breath before heading off on city tour. Reunification Palace and Remnants of war museum...very powerful stuff. Graphic photos of the war. Back to hotel before all having a sauna, steam bath and full body massage 60 mins for $9 US each Monday 10th March: Took walk around...Hustle and bustle is constant yet strangely calm. Bus trip to Mekong delta. Roadside vendors all along route. Took river cruise which was absolutely amazing. So many sights, sounds and smells Went for walk ... read more