Cat Ba island and Ha Long bay

---

We left Hanoi on the train on 2nd to go to Haiphong so we could get a ferry to Cat Ba island and see Ha Long bay. We stayed a night in Haiphong which wasn't a great town. Not a lot there.

Got a hydrofoil the next morning to Cat Ba island which is a beautiful island, only about 30km from top to bottom. We got a nicish hotel on the seafront in Cat Ba town and then paid about 4quid to rent a motorbike to explore the island. To say I've never driven a motorbike before, let alone been on the back of one until a week ago I think I did alright! There's no way I would drive one in one of the major cities because the traffic is a bit manic but on the island it was great, hardly any other bikes/cars and fantastic scenery to ride round in. Reminded me a bit like driving through Jurassic Park!

We stopped at the national park and climbed one of the peaks of the island, only about 225m and a pretty easy climb if not sweaty! There was a watch tower at the top and the view from the top was spectacular. Well worth the effort.

The seafood on the island is pretty good as well as it's all really fresh.

The next day we got a boat with a french couple to explore the 2000 rock islands around Cat Ba island and Ha Long bay. Its scenery that a camera cannot do justice enough, just awesome.We passed quite a few floating houses along the way. We also visited a couple of caves and did some kayaking around some of the islands.

At the end of the day we dropped the frenchies on another boat and we stayed to sleep on ours for the night. Waking up to the scenery we had in the morning was fantastic. I tried to look out for the bar from the Top Gear episode but couldn't see it. There's so many floating houses anyway it could've been any one!

We steered through the islands to Ha Long City to board our local bus back to Hanoi.

---

Comments

[Mumsy]

The photos are great, the scenery is just fantastic. Oh, and you look great too. Miss you.

[Mainey]

Don't think that beer in your hand distracts the eye from the CREEPY TOES.