Halong Bay

Halong Bay, home of the descending dragon, is the kind of place that you're pretty sure isn't real. Even when you are there, it still could be a green screen. Beautiful beyond all sense. 

But first there is a bus ride and a rickety boat ride that feels unsafe. 

We were so happy to be on our big boat and discover that our cabin was beautiful!!! Time to party!

There are 3000 limestone islands jutting out from the sea.

Photos cannot even touch the peaceful and majestic feeling of the experience. 

Included on the tour was the boat, room, all meals, a sunset party (so a glass of wine... we may have scooped the extras), kayaking, swimming, "Oh My Buddha" caves, and learning how to make spring rolls. All for a little over $100. Bargain. 

We should have stayed another night. 

We would go back in a heartbeat. 

Living on the mainland was too expensive so these people lived in their floating fishing villages. Fresh water was brought everyday. They may be poor but what a view...

We climbed up many stairs with many old people warning us about the unevenness of the rocks. Everyone from every country giggled at rocks shaped like a willy. 

There was an option to climb up a mountain to a pagoda. We chose chilling at the beach. 

100% recommend going to Halong Bay. Next time I'd like to go to Monkey Island or Cat Ba Island. I want to spend more time on the top deck watching the islands go by. I love how they would just appear out of the mists, mysterious and awesome. 

Hanoi

Hanoi. 

Bicycles are used for everything from carting people to popcorn. 

Since it's a big city it has those big city smells. Exhaust, concrete, urine. Also incense because it is everywhere. Outside pagodas, shrines, and shops. Even stuck into cracks in a building or sidewalk. It's sort of magical to have that vague scent of spirituality follow you everywhere. 

Old ladies wear their silk pyjamas to walk around the lake and do their exercises. Men smoke and chat, women sell fruit, children run and play. TJ and I? We walked leisurely and then sat down for coffee and cards. 

One local delicacy is snake wine. It's just what you'd think: a fermenting snake (and scorpion thrown in for good measure) in rice wine. We had an opportunity to try it but firmly refused. 

After 3 weeks in Vietnam I finally tried Pho. Delicious! And more filling that one would expect!

The market was so full of people and stuff. There was literally no where to go and the sellers had to squeeze themselves in with their wares. I cannot imagine how they can possibly sell all this stuff. Or even how they manage to remember where everything is. 

TJ bargained with a lady who spoke little English using emphatic gestures and a calculator. He came away with a new backpack!

Hoi An

We arrived in Hoi An and promptly went to get measured up for new clothes. Consequently, we needed to get a few million dong out to pay for this.

TJ saying "What am I going to do with all this dong???"

Hoi An is so so so pretty. It has perfect colours everywhere!

I think that maybe North America is the only place that refrigerates our eggs... 

There are approximately 1 zillion tailor shops and they all have their sister shoe making shops. We resisted. Barely. 

A street with no scooters on it? Jump for joy!

The results of our tailoring experience! So much fun!

Cham Towers

Aside from the beach I'm pretty sure the Cham towers is the best bit about Nha Trang. The buildings were incredible, old and obviously made and restored with love. 

You know those days when the sunlight is perfect and all seems right with the world, even though you're still hot and sweaty? Yup that was this day. 

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Home of really really pushy hotel vendors that follow you down the street and laugh when you trip. 

Thousands upon thousands of Russian tourists who like to wear teeny tiny Speedo bathing suits. And the ladies like to tuck their bathing suits up their bums to create an unsightly thong.

Far too many drunken backpackers doing pushups in the middle of the street. And far too many bars selling "buckets of drink" to these fools. 

But also the beach is gorgeous. The water is gorgeous. The weather is gorgeous. 

And the massage places really know what they are doing! 

We took our very first night bus from Nha Trang to Hoi An. The bus was about 13 hours long. It was a sleeper so we thought that it might be a good thing. We forgot that the bus would not be built for large Canadians but small Asian people. 

The seats were like 3 rows of bunk beds with no place to put your carry on luggage but on your lap. It was an interesting journey.