25th December 2014 Sapa to Hanoi to Halong Bay - VIETNAM

Sapa to Hanoi to Halong Bay Vietnam 25th December 2014

 Redeye arrival in Hanoi at 4am to be woken to the Vietnamese national anthem played at full blast as the murderous train rolled in !! Beats an alarm clock any day.

Mandy was all for disconnecting the corridor speakers but decided there were too many uniforms around to risk a trip to the Hanoi Hilton

We were met by the ever cheerful Ting (yes that really is his name…) who for a change was looking very worried when we came down the platform laughing- he is obviously unused to that reaction to the overnight train trip arriving at 4am & now fears for our sanity…..He then took us to a hotel for a few hours sleep before cheerfully announcing he would be back at 8.30am to drive us to Halong Bay for our overnight trip though Halong and Bat Cai Bays.

 View as we leave Hanoi

Its never a good idea to overload your moped.  Cars are rare unless you work for the government.  Mopeds and scooters are the only affordable means of getting around.

We slept (or drifted in and out of consciousness)  for most of the 2 hour car trip and arrived in Halong Bay feeling nearly human. Our boat was a wooden junk with 15 cabins and was just lovely. Ideal after our hectic last couple of days. We promptly got the champagne on ice, bagged a window table & set sail !      We intended to treat ourselves to Christmas in style and we certainly did that.

We sailed out through the bay through the limestone karst’s which was just stunning. Weather was kind to us, it was mild and we sat on the deck in loungers watching the whole scene float past (certain people may have seen certain parts of it through closed eyelids but we shall not name names….)

 "I think I could really enjoy this"

Sea View  on our cruise 

Hard to imagine but after the murderous train trip, we never made the full christmas party and dispite all the drink being free, we were all in bed my 10.00 exhausted.

"Remember the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest?..."

Pearl Fisherman

The beautiful Halong Bay - perhaps not the best of weather for us but stunning and tranquil anyway. Definitely one of our high spots of Vietnam for us.  This cruise trip was simply not to be missed.