Halong

Friday 18th
Time to leave Hue and head to Halong Bay via Hanoi. Firstly, a short 1 hour flight to Hanoi. Then we transfer to the coach for the 4 hour trip to Halong. In the last couple of years there have been some new roads built, so the trip is now a much shortened from the 7 hour road trip previously - choi oi (oh my god).

After about an hour and a half we stopped at a typical small farm where there are a number if farmhouses in the Vietnam style. 5 years ago these houses were timber, but now mostly all are concrete, some up to 3 stories, they look good from the outside, and possibly the first room inside the main door, but the rest are apparently unfurnished.

Here we saw rice drying in the sun, in the courtyards of these houses, we wandered thru the rice paddies and saw how they harvested the rice.

An hour later we stopped at a handicapped craft centre for lunch. Great lunch and also some great artwork, clothing, crafts and sculptures. Win will be spending some money here on the way back I am sure - bugger!

Finally arrive at Halong Bay and check in to a most impressive hotel, Win and I are on the 12th floor and have a great view of the Bai Chai bridge which was built in 2006. A short stroll to the bridge and take the lift up 10 stories to the road deck, and as usual as we are walking along the footpath, we need to share this with push bikes as well as the occasional motor bike, although all are supposed to use the road.

The view from our hotel room window









Oh did I mention the weather? 42 degress and 87% humidity. So a good way to end the day head backto the hotel bar for a couple of beers before dinner, and the all you can eat buffet.

Buffet - magnificent, wine as usual expensive and not all that good, oh well such is life. We are now in a routine with some of the group having a Baileys and ice nightcap at the bar before we turn in, you would think that this is straightforward, but it is sometimes difficult, as they always want to mix the Baileys with something eg milk (oh the milk is crap as well generally condensed milk - you know the stuff in cans), so be specific Baileys, Baileys only, and some ice as well.