martyh

Trip to Ha Long Bay is about 3hrs,arranged by our tour guide 4 of us on a boat, tour leader, bus driver crew of 5 for 2 days $90 US each plus tips. Great value and the meals fantastic. Passing Limestone mountains mined for cement material, lots of factories putting out lots of smog. Very close to the Chinese border (150 km). Crossing over the Red river just outside Ha noi(it is red from the silt). The boat trip out fantastic, paddeling through a cave into a lake surrounded by steep mountains all around is inspiring. Suprise cave is fantastic and the floating shopping boats come to bargin just as if you are walking down the street and they sell everything you could imagine. Anyway I'll let the photos tell the rest.... read more

Arrived in Hanoi by plane, an uneventful but enjoyable flight. Vietair has more legroom then most budget airlines. Stayed the night at the Van Xuan Hotela basic hotel before moving to a supposedly better hotel. Well we came back to this one, it may not be as flash but the staff are fantastic, the rooms clean and basic, the dining good and it is in the center of the old quater, noisy but great to be in. Had a tour of the city, saw Hanoi Hilton prison for captured americans, before a prison set up by the french. Not a pleasent place and a lot of cruel stuff occured here. Worth the visit. Ho Chi Mhins tomb was shut, but if you do want to visit wear long pants or you wont be let in. Rest ... read more

The storms up north have caused the train line to be broken, we had a short 45sec drive to the train station only to be told that there is a 20hr delay. Cancel tickets and now we will hopefully fly tonight. Such is the plans of traveler, sorry to miss the train trip but no point in getting upset. Visited the Forbidden Purple City and also temple site of dead king. The dragon boat ride was interesting seeing the sand miners the drop a steel bucket into the river, drag it along the bottom and they winch it up using a windlass manned by 2 or 3 people using feet and hands to raise it from the bottom. The boats are so loaded with sand they only have about 5 to 10cm from the water to ... read more

Hoi An, amazing shopping, food and places to see, after traveling over great mountain passes, we visited marble mountain, inside is amazing. The beach was fantastic as we don't swim in Darwin it was a nice change.... read more

Well all but one of us decided it was too wet, windy and slippery to ride. Malcome (copper from Scotland) rode the whole way! We also have sore backsides from hard bike seats and bummpy roads. Amazing hotel in the middle of the city surrounded by poverty and poor housing, Vietnam is a county of contradictions. The people are so friendly despite not having lots! Cycled over what was suppose to be downhill and flat countryside, our guide likes to trick us. Sue is enjoying the bus ride and learning to communicate through smiles, hand movements and action with the non english speaking driver. He by the way videoed me as I rode down a steep, winding mountain over 4 km downhill and a 10% grade. I didn't know this! Sue and he enjoyed this experince. ... read more

Went over the Ngoan Muc Pass, travelling downhill at speed, slowing to see the view, an extrodinary country. Eating lunch as we go I managed to cycle 100km today! Sue too sore to ride. The weather is fantastic. I rode the last part of two inclines of 6% over a km, ready to finish but then told the rest was downhill! Fantastic views and the city reminds me of Bali and the gold coast in feel. Great food we cooked it at our table! Next morning overcast and raining but our boat trip still on! Out into the South China sea visited moon island for a swim on the coral reef.We also had manicure, pedicure and a massage! Ahhh. Sue's nail are gold! Next moring we move on towards Lak Lake and a traditional village rode ... read more

The trip to Dalat was great. the country side amazing. I managed 20km out of the 45 cycled today. The next morning we rode downhill around 12km, a scary experience with cars, buses, motorcycles all flying pass you, beeping horns to say move over we are coming through. By the way you travel on the other side of the road from Australia. Takes some getting use to. Near Prenn is a great waterfall, Sue had to dodge an elephant that was taking tourists on a ride as it crossed the road. We went up to a local Lat village, interesting place with women in charge. They make the most amazing weaving and families of 12 not unusual. Prices seem high but taking into account a bedspread takes 2 people a month to weave the prices are ... read more