On to Hanoi
An early morning bike ride through the village and countryside, where scooters laden with all manner of provisions – from food to fuel – were ridden through neighbourhoods – the drivers announcing their wares loudly. Door-to-door delivery! Tuan drove us…
Floating Market
Five thirty start, still dark. Good job Tuan’s boat is just across the road. Picnic basket with hot tea and coffee as we chugged down the river towards the market. Most of the true trading had already been done (around…
Chocolate & Longtail Boats
After breakfast 6 of us, led by Hui (Tuan’s son) set off on bikes for the Chocolate plantation. Down the decidedly rough road, past local shops and houses, towards one of the Mekong river’s many tributaries where we waited for…
Good Morning Vietnam
Arriving at 5 am, I think we can get away with saying that! Uneventful flight. Vietjet is definitely a budget affair. Good job we’d purchased a couple of Ban Mi sandwiches at the airport because food on board was nowhere…
Temples, Temples
This will be a LONG day today. Our flight doesn’t leave until 01:10 so we need a few things to occupy the time. Left the bags and backpacks at the hotel after another excellent breakfast (I shall miss those egg…
Forbidden City
Off to explore on our own … venturing forth into the massive subway system … purported to be the largest in the world. At the bottom of the stairs, on a raised platform in the corner, two immaculately-dressed national guards,…
The Great Wall
Now THIS is the way to start the day — all hotel breakfasts should be like this. Besides a whole rank of beverages, yoghurt and toast, there was a delicious assortment of dumplings, bao buns, hard boiled eggs, stir fried…
Tokyo to Beijing
Flight doesn’t leave until 6pm … so there’s still more time to explore. Breakfast this morning was at a local coffee shop doing a flourishing trade … and no, wonder the prices were very reasonable. Not sure what to order,…
Tokyo
We have arrived! Zipair proved more than ample … very comfortable seats (most important) and despite misgivings about ordering the Mushroom ravioli (would it be just a step up from Chef Boyardi?) it was surprisingly good! Just wish the announcement…