Leaving Sapa, we got glimpses of the famous steeply terraced rice fields … We also discovered that the short-cutting bridge which was closed on the way up four days ago is now open. It did save us the twenty minutes…
10. SAPA AND THE HIGHEST POINT IN SE ASIA.
We have one night in Hanoi, where we met Robin, Linda and family, before heading NE to the high country. Sapa is the target. We reject a wildly unimpressive option to take the overnight train and book a nine-seater luxury…
9. HA LONG BAY.
Strictly speaking, I think it should be written “Hą Long Bay”. But who’s checking? After several days in fairly dismal, industrial surroundings, the Bay is looking positively enchanting! Our first views of the “mountainous” scenery were superb. I don’t think…
8. MORE TANGLED WATERWAYS.
What I forgot to say, was that last evening, the local song and dance routine ended with a bit of audience participation! Back to this morning (Saturday 10 January). We had moored alongside an area of riverside which was being…
7. INTO THE RED RIVER DELTA.
Late at night, (8 January) approaching 10.00 pm we were raided by the police. Several young men with their green and red uniforms and huge peaked caps and clunky boots chambered aboard, marched up and down the deck and demanded…
6. HANOI.
Wednesday 8 January. The first manoevre of the day involved raising our anchor and sailing off under the Nhat Tan Bridge … … and the Long Bein Bridge. This was opened in 1903 and at 2.4 km in length was,…
5. TEMPLES, TEMPLES EVERYWHERE!
Today it’s Tuesday 6 January. We are going to visit a “UNESCO village” this morning. Duong Lam Village. I bet it’s got a temple! Ahh, yes. It does! The Phun Hung Temple … Lots of offerings and lots of Buddhas. …
4. GONE CRUISING!
Xin Chao! Our “only Vietnamese expression” – Hello! The staff of the Silk Path Hotel booked us a taxi to transfer us to the cruise pick-up point, the Pan Pacific Hotel. Because we are in a traffic-free zone, they walked…
3. THE LAST DAY IN HANOI – FOR NOW!.
We have been sensibly relaxed in the city. We know we can get run over any time we want by an endless stream of motorbikes, cars trucks and buses. The best way to do this is to try using a…
2. THE FIRST MORNING OF THE YEAR!
January 1. The morning after the night before! While we had watched the fireworks from the 9th floor, the locals were crowded 100 deep (at least) all round the lake in front of our Silk Path Boutique Hotel. They were…