Hanoi

Hanoi - the famous communist (sorry socialist) capital of the north was actually a joy to behold. Slightly smaller than Saigon and a tad less hectic it was my favourite of the two. Highlights included Little Hanoi restaurant (the food was amazing), beer corner 25p for a beer and everyone sits on the kerb - bit like Shoreditch in east London or Berlin. The people were pretty friendly too, which always helps. Learned how to say 'you are beautiful' and 'I love you' in Vietnamese. The only two phrases you need when you're me. Had a wicked time, nice way to round of Nam.

The Bay

Halong Bay is a town three hours north of Hanoi, and is steeped in Vietnamese mythology. The mountains are rumoured to be the leftover remains of dragons which came from the sky to aid the Vietnamese in their struggle against the Chinese. My guide told me the next day that a dragon had come into his bedroom the night before to tell him to thank us for visiting LOL.. I cracked that I've had a few dragons visit my bedroom too, but only when I'm wasted. The joke was lost in translation. :)

We only spent one day and night there, cruising the bay by day and visiting the caves and then we had a party in our hotel that night - everybody let loose the antics were untold. We played drinking games - one bloke had his girlfriend's dress on, another gave our guide a lap dance, and another still admitted to a foursome. Ahh, drinking games always bring out the best in people.

Biking in Hue

Another beautiful city, another beautiful experience. Coming home isn't an option. Yet.

French couture in Hoi An

Hoi An is an amazing city seriously underrated and unknown! It smacks of the French colonial times, and is a a city renowned for tailoring and high fashion. The architecture is also very beautiful as you can see... Two of the guys in our group had suits custom made there, the place is every girl's paradise with original and arty fashion and shop upon shop. Its what Paris used to be. Hoi An I love you. Xx

Beach time at Nha Trang

After Saigon and all the drama there, we departed for Nha Trang, which is a beach town about halfway up the coast of Vietnam. It had a few nice spots, one in particular bar called The Sales Club designed for all the Russian billionaires that holiday there. I wandered round initially looking for any girls my age, until our tour guide informed us Nha Trang comprised just Russians and old people. Oh well, at least the vistas were good!

We all hit the mud pools on the first day which was fun, and then had a 'party on the beach' with Sydney Dave on day two. Sydney Dave was a fat bloke from Australia married to a young Vietnamese woman and ran a beach business. We paid something like 10 dollars each to be transported to a nice beach where we could eat as much Vietnamese barbecue and drink as much Saigon beer as we could manage. Needless to say everybody consumed their money's worth (check out the fourth pic everyone looks mangled) - and we all passed out around six in the evening! Had a good laugh there...