Christmas day. It began in Laos and ended in Vietnam. This has to be as good as it gets.
The morning was free to wonder about Vientiane. The traffic there is mad, so I didn't wander far. The city is a strange mix of very old sacred sites next door to modern buildings. Caution is required when walking as in the middle of a sidewalk you might find a hole large enough to do yourself serious damage. Perhaps what most amazed me was the number of cars and motor bikes parked wherever. Often on the sidewalk, which made them rather useless for walking! And the power lines were a massive jumble of electrical wire. How could one ever determine what feeds what!
Before setting off for the airport we said goodbye to Nok, our leader through Thailand and Laos. She'd watched over us with great care, was well organized and also full of fun so we all hoped our next leader would be equally as good.
Vientiane - this is parking?
Vientiane - a wiring nightmare!
Vientiane, construction- see the bricks being lifted?
The flight to Hanoi took just 45 minutes so we were very soon meeting our next tour leader, Tur. We've clearly once again been lucky.
If I thought the traffic in Vientiane was mad I did not know what was in store for us in Hanoi, a city of about 7 million. Absolute chaos. If there are rules they are certainly not followed. No lights, just a mass of cars and motorbikes going any which way. And again, the sidewalks are just an extension of the road. We ventured cautiously onto these roads after checking into our hotel (Hong NGOC Dynasty, in the old quarter, a fabulous choice) and stuck close to Tur! A short walk around the old quarter took us to our supper spot, a restaurant serving local food. Once again good. The old quarter is alive with activity. I couldn't imagine finding my way through it on my own.
Hanoi- old quarter at night
Hanoi- our hotel (Hong NGOC Dynasty)
December 26
No sitting still. By 8:15 we'd boarded our van (really comfortable) for Halong Bay, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sadly it was very overcast and cool and we were heading for an overnight boat ride. Oh well!
On the way through Hanoi we passed a funeral procession, walking along the road! Where else! Tur explained that funerals in Vietnam extend for 3 days. The ride took 4 hours and Tur spent most of it talking about the history and culture of Vietnam. He'd told us he'd be honest about both the good and bad, and he was just that. He is clearly well educated and influenced by the Western life style in addition to his own.
We stopped mid-way, at a factory/store set up to help people affected by Agent Orange. Incredible products but too little time to look around. And the place was packed.
And now I am on the boat which is anchored for the night in Halong Bay. We had lunch and supper on the boat, both extraordinary. Sculptured vegetables no less! The boat has only about 8 rooms and was recently renovated. Modern bathrooms, lots of wood accents, quiet lovely. The afternoon was spent touring Halong Bay and visiting one of the caves, called the Surprise Cave, likely because the size of the biggest chamber is just that. A huge space. The pictures below do a better job of showing you what it's like than my words ever could. Shame there was no sun.
Our home for the night on Halong Bay
My room!
Halong Bay, in the mist
Surprise Cave
Part of our supper!
