We took a 3 hour bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay. The sun was shining and it was HOT and humid. We boarded a junk boat and LOVED it. We were a bit worried because of the name. The wood boat was charming and the food was exceptional. In China, we ate a ton of fast food because so much of the food was questionable. In Vietnam, we have had nothing but deliciousness.

Departing to Halong Bay

Lime Stone

Halong Bay is just lovely. We intend to come back with a group of our own peeps. We walked through limestone caves that were so interesting and naturally occurring. Our tour guide pointed out various shapes in the ceiling.

View from the Caves

Cave One

Cave Two

Look Out

After the tour, Marc and I got into kayaks and went for a 2 hour kayak through Halong bay. The movie Indochine was filmed here. We were thrilled. The tsunami that took place a few weeks before left the water quite dirty. We didn’t see the cow head floating in the water. If we did, we would have probably rethought our great idea to go for a swim around the boat.

Kayaking

So Much Fun

The meals we had on the boat were the best we have had in weeks–some dishes get the title of best ever. We had prawns that were so fresh and delicious at every meal. We loved the dipping sauce–a little pile of sea salt and a wedge of lime. We will recreate this in YYZ.

Excellent Food

The issue I encountered, is that prawns still had eyeballs and legs when they were served. I didn’t even know that is what shrimp look like. I of course was frightened on them and since I have the greatest husband who ever walked the face of the earth, he removed the prawn’s head and legs for me and placed a shrimp that looked like it came from Pusateri’s on my plate. I heart Marc Bernard.

Our dinner companions were still so jet lagged, so they skipped dinner. We gladly ate their stuffed crab and prawns. We felt like we won the jackpot.

I bought a lovely pearl necklace in Halong bay. A girl from Australia said I looked just like Audrey Hepburn when I tried them on. Obviously they were sold after that.

New Pearls

Vietnam is officially kicking China’s ass.

Captain

Good bye China, Good morning Vietnam!

Good Morning Vietnam!
I say this EVERY MORNING

We arrived in Hanoi late. We had been warned by fellow travelers about the schemers, thieves, nerdowells that troll the airport. We encountered them, but avoided them and had a civilized ride to our hotel.

Welcome Flowers for Us

Vietnamese currency is a Dong. It is a hard to currency to deal with because of the inflation. 1,000 Dong is 6 cents. 17,000 Dong is one Dollar. Luckily, USD are used and gladly accepted everywhere.

There are a few things that stand out from our time in Hanoi. First–the traffic. I would still be standing on a corner in Hanoi if not for Marc. He figured out that you just need to start walking–despite the fact that you are walking into on coming traffic. I was not a fan of this system. Traffic lights are obviously for tourists only. While waiting at a red light, we watched in amazement the scooters fly through the intersection–while they were at a red light. Pedestrians do not have the right of way. Obviously I didn’t feel safe crossing the street. It is however a system that somehow works. 4 people on one scooter, no helmets flying through red lights, it is beyond me how there isn’t an accident every 2 minutes (you wouldn’t believe the volume of scooters), but there isn’t.

Hanoi Traffic

Restaurant Vietnamese Style

Now it is time to tell you about Bianca. Marc and I walked into a little store to buy water and low and behold, there is the most stunning cat on a little chain at the back of the store. She is pure white (when I was growing up, I used to have a pure white cat who wore a pink diamond collar and I couldn’t have loved him more). I promptly named this lovely beast Bianca (she actually named herself) and decided then and there that I wanted her. She had this ratty tatty as big as your thumb sticking out of her neck. She needed a bath and a pink diamond collar–but she was regal my friends–regal. My plan? Buy Bianca from the store owner (money does talk in this country) get her on a plane and send her to Hamilton until we get home. Marc started pointing out of a few issues with my plan. You actually can’t just send a cat to Canada from Vietnam. There are forms, vet visits, vaccines, quarantine period… So sadly Bianca is still at the store. We went back for a visit and she was fast asleep in a little box–still on a chain. I miss her already.

Bianca