Northern Vietnam and Halong Bay

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Hello Friends and Family,

I am back on the road travelling again. This time with my father. We are exploring Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. We arrived in Hanoi, in Northern Vietnam, on September 6. Hanoi is a busy city with moto-scooters everywhere. We visited the local templs, the Temple of Literature and the Masoleum of Ho Chi Minh, then we escaped out to the coast to Halong Bay. We spent two nights aboard a junk boat, visiting spectacular caves and soaking in the rocky scenery. We kayaked for two days around the bays, to the floating village, beneath arches and into one cave (with a wind-up flashlight) which led to a hidden bay.

Yesterday, we caught the Reunification express to Hue and took a boat ride up the Perfume River to visit the Perfume Pagoda and the Royal Tomb of Tu Doc. Later on, we visited the huge Imperial Palace that is in the process of being carefully reconstructed to match the original design, much of which was bombed during WWII and the Vietnam war. We are about to leave for Hoi An to see the My Son ruins and the historic old town.

We are having a fabulous though hot and humid. Air conditioning is an absolute must in all the hostels. The people are fiend;y but everyone is trying to make or scam a buck. Hope everyone is well.

Cheers, Richard

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Comments

[Charlene]

Wonderful Photos
Hi Richard Your mum and I just saw the photos. How beautiful it looks. We are jealous. Except for the heat and humidity part. Great Photos Richard. Love Mum and Charlene

[Ann]

Did u put on sunscreen?
U look kinda red in the pic, hon... Make sure u use sunscreen & that after-sun gel so u don't burn! =P Sounds like u'r having a good time. Take care of ur dad, he's not used to so much excercise nowadays! Heh... xoxo