Page 22 - Explore - Autumn/Winter 2019

OH BOY,

HANOI!

ur introductory taxi ride from the airport through the crazily bay to ourselves. The next day saw another excursion to the Surprise
busy streets of Hanoi was an experience in itself. We arrived on Cave and Ti Top Island, both of which are spectacular. Surprise Cave,
Oa flight from Singapore and my travel companion said, “Man, as the name suggests, is made up of three caves that transport you
I hope the rest of Asia is like Singapore!” She was in for a surprise to another world. Ti Top Island is the best place for views of Ha Long
because Hanoi is the real Asia, where trying to cross the road gets the Bay. There are 400 steep steps to the top of the island but if you
adrenaline pumping and street food stalls line the streets. If you’re aren’t up for that a lookout halfway up offers 180-degree views. We
wanting a unique holiday, it’s definitely the place to go. got some stunning photos at sunset.
The Old Quarter of the city, our home for our first two nights, dates Back in Hanoi we took an overnight train 670 km south to Hue. We
back to Imperial times (AD 938 to 1858) and was originally a residential
and manufacturing area. If you’re after a room with a view or a hotel were in one of the newer carriages, which made the 13-hour journey
with a pool your options are slim but there is such an abundance of more pleasant, and while the carriages and cabins are small and
street stalls, restaurants, affordable clothing stores, amazing spas, basic they are again all you need if you’re just there to sleep. The
large night markets and historic churches that you are only likely to cabins sleep four people in two bunks and there is enough room to
be in your accommodation to sleep. The night markets are a must-see store your luggage if your suitcase is not too big. Bring food or snacks
when visiting Hanoi. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. for your evening meal. A coffee/snack trolley in the morning will get
you through to your arrival in Hue.
We began our G Adventures small-group tour the next day and set
off to Ha Long Bay for the night. It’s about a four-hour bus ride but Hue is the old capital of Vietnam and with only one million people
the scenery is great and the time just flew by. On arrival we met our it’s very green, clean and quiet in comparison with Hanoi. Excited
local guide and boarded a traditional sailing junk which has a design to get up and moving, we began our first excursion which was a
similar to a pirate ship with cabins on the bottom floor, dining on the motorbike tour of the city. The guide met us at our hotel and we
second and an open top deck-cum-rooftop. As we sailed away to a were soon off exploring the back streets and country roads. The
secluded bay to anchor overnight there was plenty of time to relax on motorbike tour visited three amazing places with equally amazing
the top deck with a drink and watch the world go by.
people, the first being the home of an inspirational lady who
The next morning we took a full-day kayaking excursion and in the has been making the famous conical hats you see everywhere in
afternoon when other groups left we had the famous lagoons of the Vietnam for 41 years. She has only one arm.