Hanoi - Sunday 12 June

Woke and had breakfast in the hotel.

Walked to the lake and caught an Uber Scooter to HCM Mausoleum. I knew it would be packed (which it was - the queue went for miles) and I just wanted to walk around it, and have a look at the One Pillar Pagoda. However I couldn't even get near that.

People queuing for HCM Museum...not for me...

Presidential Palace...

HCM Mausoleum...I couldn't get closer...

I then ubered back to my hotel.

Had an egg coffee at another place in Nguyen Hu Haan St that I read about. Very sweet and not as good as the first one.

Had shower and checked out. Went for lunch (accidentally) at a place I had been to the prior night on the food tour. Nice bun cha at Bun Cha Ta. That is grilled pork in a soup with noodles.

Then back to my favourite coffee place - close to my hotel. Cafe Tang. I had 2 iced coffees - really good. VND18,000 each which is about A$1.

Back to my hotel and caught private car to airport. Cost USD16 and arranged by the hotel. Taxi costs about the same so why go any other way. It's about a 40 minute drive.

Checked in easy and got through immigration no problem.

Easy 1.5 hour flight back to HK and then Airport Express back to Central.

Cock fighting in a random park I stumbled across...

Bidet...didn't try..

Cute...

Wouldn't want to go here...it says "Immigration Refusal Room"...

View from the men's toilets...nice airport...

What is this ???

Halong Bay - Saturday 11 June

Woke early and had nice buffet breakfast. We then got on the tender and motored to a nearby island.



Walked through these amazing and large caves. Beautifully lit and preserved.

Halong Bay is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world...

















The rude finger :-)









Touch the turtle's head for good luck...





Back to the boat and then motored back to the marina while we had brunch.



Back at the marina we boarded the bus back to Hanoi. We all slept most of the way as we were pretty tired.

Checked back into La Suites in Hanoi.

At 18:30 I joined a street food walking tour. I was going to do this on the first night but didn't, and actually found it quite simple to sit in a restaurant and order. However this tour was recommended and cost USD20 including food and beer, and I thought it might be fun to meet some other tourists.

It was good - about 3 hours. We tasted many things, all of them good. No snake, dog, or weasel coffee !





What we ate...



It is now very hot. I walked around Old Quarter and down to the lake to see it at night. Back to the hotel.

Hats...

Another egg coffee...

Beer corner...

Lake at night...

Ly Thai To...moved the capital to Hanoi in 1010...

Government building...

Halong Bay - Friday 10 June

Up early and breakfast in the hotel which was included in the room rate. It was okay buffet but they did cook an omelette fresh for me each morning. The hotel is very quiet. It is not peak season due to being summer.

Picked up by luxury minibus for the 4 hour drive to Halong Bay. Met some other guests - all couples and from France, China, Canada, Mexico and Japan. Good cultural mix.

Quy was our guide and very knowledgeable so we learned a lot on our way there.

Got to the marina and tendered out to the boat. I had chosen a newer one which was a good call. Have lunch while keys were issued. I had a nice room with private balcony. There was a spa on the front deck and a nice large place to sit up top.

My room on the boat...nice...

Food is included but not coffee or alcohol. Had a beer with lunch which was VND66,000 - about 3 times what I paid in Hanoi. After lunch, a woman in a sampan approached us and sold us beers for VND30,000, so we bought some and out them in our fridges.

We motored for a while and the scenery was stunning. Moored and the split into people who wanted to do kayaking and those who wanted to do hiking. I wanted to hike as you could swim at the end. We were tendered to a small island.

The hike was just a steep walk to the top of that island where you could take photos. Back down and there was a beach where you could swim from. Water temp was lovely and a relief after the walk as it was very hot.





We bought more beer there for VND20,000 so we were well set for the night.

Had a spa, followed by a nice dinner and then spent the evening on the top deck and met some other guests. Unusually there were no Australian's, Poms or Yanks and it was really nice to be with a range of other nationalities. Spanish speakers mostly.

Buying beer...

Steep hike...

Beautiful...

Swam here...

Having a well deserved spa...

Karaoke...Rene from Mexico and Laurent from France...

Ali and Rene...