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  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Longan Homestsay, Hoi An, Day 4

    October 2, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The sound of rain is actually quite a relief when we wake up. It's always nice to have a lazy day when you're trying to fill every day with stuff, so the rain is a perfect excuse to take one. We only venture outside in the morning to get food, including a cup of coffee served in a biscuit that you then eat afterwards. The biscuit is good, but I am really craving some Nescafe out here.
    After that we retire to the room and listen to the rain as we try and devise some plans to make money. Amy is ready to teach. I am read to write. Hopefully in some time we will be able to earn a bit of cash by doing these (I feel Amy will be more successful then me).
    We go for a small walk just to get some exercise and feel like we have done something with our day, before eating tea and heading back to the room. An early start for the cooking class tomorrow!    Read more

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    Longan Homestay, Hoi An, Day 3

    October 1, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Apparently one of the things that you must do in Hoi An is rent a couple of bicycles and go ona ride through the nearby countryside, so that's what we decide to do today. We head off early and get breakfast on the way. The first mile or so is pretty tricky, with the road either full of beeping cars and mopeds flying past you or being remade so full of tar and dust. At one point the road is only half open so it is a tight squeeze, of course the local drivers see no problem in overtaking though!
    It's a relief when we finally get off the main road and ride onto the muddy tracks around the fields that is so familiar to us after spending time in the North. The scenery isn't as spectacular as most of the places we have been, but it is always fun to ride through the villages and alongside the rivers. It's good to get out of the chaos of the city and the old town especially.
    After we have ridden around for a bit we head to the beach to see how far it is (not very). It's incredibly hot so we chill out in a restaurant. A tourist is struggling with the heat, which shows us again how important it is to stay hydrated out here.
    After that we head back, and soon make our way through the traffic lights and busy streets, with tar from our tyres flicking up at our legs as we ride, and back to the lovely hotel room. Arsenal are playing so w head into the old town and find somewhere cheap to watch the game. I get a Satay which is the spiciest thing I have eaten so far (strangely). After that we head back for a quiet night. We're meant to be checking out tomorrow, but we decided to stay another three nights. We're not done with Hoi An yet!    Read more

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    Longan Homestay, Hoi An, Day 2

    September 30, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After getting up slowly again we head into the old town for breakfast. It is great to be so close to it as it is truly great to walk around at any time of the day. We decide to have some rest after our food and head back, before setting off again mid afternoon.
    As we walk into the town, we use some of the tickets on our main old town ticket to get into historical relics. Firstly, we visit an ancient house that was built over 200 years ago. It could have been really interesting, but the fact every room was now a shop with someone selling something kind of took the interest out of it.
    After that we went to a small photo gallery/museum which contained the work of rehnan. He had travelled all over Vietnam taking shots of the various tribes and taking there tribal clothing to show. The clothes and information was great but the pictures were the best part. Huge and unbelievably clear.
    We decided to eat tea at the market which was very tasty (apart from some banana pancakes when the woman selling them charged us double) and had a few beers before heading to the guitar Hawaii Bar. The live band were great, even if all the music was Vietnamese!    Read more

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    Longan Homestay, Hoi An, Day 1

    September 29, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Another slow morning as is custom now on moving days. The excitement at getting to Hoi An, which has being so highly recommended, soon drags us out into the heat though, and we board a local bus for the small journey. The bus is pretty cramped to begin with, with me sitting on an oil can for the first ten minutes holding onto the chair in front so I don't topple over.
    We soon make it though, and make our way to our homestay. What a place it is. We are led into what looks like an outhouse, and shown a room that is more like a private apartment. It's huge! The location is also perfect for the walk to the famous World Heritage renowned Old Town.
    That's where we head for some dinner. Lao Cau (probably spelt wrong) for me, a local dish that is very tasty. The town itself is beautiful, and we spend hours walking around at the old buildings and hundreds of small shops selling anything and everything. We walk over the Japanses bridge and go into another temple that stands in the heart of the city, before heading back for some rest.
    It is in the night, when this place truly comes alive. Lanterns shine over all the streets, giving them a magical feel, and the river is lit up beautifully by the boats gliding slowly down it and the candles you can buy to let drift in. Hundreds of people walk through the market, and it feels great to be somewhere like this after Da Nang, There is just so much going on. We have a few beers and enjoy the relaxed nature of the place. Everyone has said it is amazing, and no-one was lying!    Read more

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    Travellers Nest Hostel, Da Nang, day 3

    September 28, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    it's another boiling hot day in Da Nang, but another day sitting on the beach is out the question, so we decide to work off some of the noodles by climbing one of the marble mountains. it is called a mountain, and the sound of an elevator being needed to lift you to the top adds to the daunting feeling we have at the prospect ahead of us, but in reality it's a few steps. The mountain/hill/rock is covered with various temples and statues and caves to look at on the way to the highest peak, which offers wonderful views of the city and the coast. The final cave in particular is breathtaking, with a large statue of Buddha being shone on by the Sun making it's way through a small hole in the top.
    After that we walk back down and head to the beach to cool off. Unfortunately the Sun has gone behind the clouds that now seem to cover the sky so we don't stay long.
    An eventful day, so we plan on a quiet night. Heading towards a restaurant a Vietnamese man on a bike tries to grab Am's bag from her shoulder. It's quite scary, and happens so quickly, but luckily Amy has a good grip on it and he soon realises he has picked a fight on the wrong person. It's an awful thing to happen, but as nothing was stolen we can later laugh at the look of terror on his face as he drove off, barely managing to keep on his moped.
    We walk for what seems like miles trying to find anywhere selling beer of vegetarian food, and we settle on a Mexican place which turns out to be very tasty.
    Tomorrow we go to Hoi An, and while Da Nang has lovely beaches, we are more then ready to move.    Read more

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    Travellers Nest Hostel, Da Nang, Day 2

    September 27, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We are having a beach day! We get up slowly and take advantage of the amazing breakfast this place gives out for free, before heading to the beach. We claim some sunbeds with an umbrella and get ready for a day of relaxing. The beach is lovely, not very busy, and it's great fun to watch the locals doing all kinds of strange poses for photoshoots and the lifeguard constantly walking up and down the beach blowing his whistle because people are swimming in the wrong areas. The sea feels good on another boiling hot day.
    After that we relax a bit before going to Tam's cafe. A place highly recommended, mostly for the hostess. The food is Great, Amy finally getting a veggie burger, but Tam is better, filling a few hours with her stories of being a child in the war, and the current state she finds herself and her country in. It's great to sit and listen to and the pictures she has in her seemingly hundreds of photo albums are incredible. Another good day in Vietnam!    Read more

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    Travellers Nest Hostel, Da Nang, Day 1

    September 26, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    As the alarm goes off, I have a sudden regret at spending half the night watching football. We drag ourselves up ready for the ride to Da Bang. A but different from our usual uncomfortable cramped buses today as we are on a tour bus that stops off at a few places on the way.
    Our first stop is Thanh Toan (probably not what it is correctly called) bridge. It's another beautifully sculptured bit of architecture. We only spend fifteen minutes there (the tour stops are fleeting to say the least) before heading to Lang Co beach. A lovely stretch of white sand and clear water that is the bay on view from Hai Van Pass. The limestone hills in the distance just add to the effect of the beach. It's easy to see why it's often cited as one of the best in the World.
    Next up is the Hai Van Pass. A winding mountain side road made famous by Top Gear. It's a long drive and I'm glad I'm not on a moped. Either side the views are great, either looking out over Da Nang or on Lang Co Bay. We get off at the highest point and admire the views.
    After that we get to Da Nang and settle into our hotel for a few minutes, before heading to My Khe beach. It's similar to Lang Co Beach, with the rocks on either side and the white sand, and it is great to cool down in the sea (it is a swelteringly hot day).
    After that we relax before going to a taco shop and munching down on some of the highly recommended food. It tastes great, and is dirt cheap so we're onto a winner.
    Despite getting caught in a downfall on the way home (we hid under an umbrella for five minutes not knowing we were stood outside our hotel) it is a good day, but boy are we ready for some kip!
    (Written on the beach)    Read more

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    Thanh An Hostel, Hue, Day 5

    September 25, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    A lazy day is due today, so we spend most of the morning in the room planning our next trip, Da Nang. After that we go for a walk around the town and hope to do a bit of shopping. There's not much for men unless you like shirts with brightly coloured fruits all over them, but Amy finds a few new bits.
    After that we have a few beers on the night in the various bars we have been to and like, but get another early night, ready for an early morning tomorrow.
    PS it is a very early morning for me as I'm up at 2 to watch the Arsenal match. Funny how I can watch more English games on tele here than I can in England.    Read more

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    Thanh An Hostel, Hue, Day 4

    September 24, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today we set off in search of the mysterious abandoned water park that has been recommended to us. We have a slow morning after again having a few too many beers last night. We finally got to taste some mojitos though which was good. In our attempt to catch a rock show, we failed, only catching the final song (a Vietnamese cover of Cocaine by Eric Clapton). It was annoying, but we were given free beers because they felt bad for us, so that certainly softened the blow.
    We got a taxi to the water park and we were glad we did. The 7km walk we were promised seemed much longer. As you walk onto the park a giant dragon looms over you. It's an eerie place as you walk around past the broken aquarium with all the smashed tanks and look at the walls that are covered in figures of fish and waves that have now faded with time and been covered with graffiti. The story is that the park was built in 2004, but was opened too early and made no money. It was then just given up on and left to rot. There is another story that the crocodiles that were bought for show were just left. We are told they have all been round up and collected, but still don't like walking too near to the lake.
    After the impressive dragon, you walk past abandoned cottages that have mostly fallen down, leaving just a frame. We then look at the three slides that now lead to a dirty looking pool. Finally, a theatre area which was designed for shows, but is now just a stage and some worn looking chairs. It's an odd, eerie place.
    As we have done a few times in Vietnam, we decide we can walk to the tomb of Ming Mang after the waterpark. Our taxi driver offered to wait at the park, but we declined, and we feel pretty stupid for a while until a woman pulls over and offers us a ride. We get a good price, and sit three on one moped on the journey to tomb. Roy, the moped rider, then agrees to wait for us and drive us to the city as we walk around the impressive tomb.
    Much like the citadel, the architecture and sculptures that you walk underneath and around are really beautiful. The fact these places are built as a tribute to past emperors really puts into perspective how much they are adored. They are amazing to see. It takes us around half an hour to travel the full length and it is well worth the 100,000 dong entrance fee.
    we have a quiet night after that, eating at Nooks cafe which was delicious and resting up, ready for our final day in Hue tomorrow.    Read more

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    Thanh An Hostel, Hue, Day 3

    September 23, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    An early night felt very good, and as it gets to around 8 in the morning we are up and ready to go. Our first stop is the Imperial City, and what a place it is. The residence of many of the former emperors is a vast, beautiful small holding contains numerous building of many different sizes and shapes. As soon as you enter you realise you are in for a good time, as the huge, patterned gates loom over you. Huge fish swim in the lakes on either side of you as you wander across bridges and throwing food at them is a great way to see them going crazy. We spend three hours walking around the city, as it is so big, and there is so many things that catch your attention. Whether it's temples, bridges, gardens, lakes, it truly is beautiful. It is hard to put it into your head that these historical figures used to live here and sit in the thrones that stand golden and grand in some of the rooms. A great way to understand and appreciate the history of this place.
    Our next stop is Thien Mu Pagoda, and we decide (after some bartering) to jump on a cyclo (if that's what it's called). Our guide, who is called Hue, is good to talk to as he pedals away, pointing out the many temples on the way. It's a lovely ride down the river, and the destination is just as good. The Pagoda stands seven stories high and is surrounded by temples and statues of what we think are warriors. There's also a car that was driven by a monk before he sacrificed himself by setting himself on fire. It only takes around ten minutes to look around, but it's a great place to see.
    Hue then cycles us back to the market, which is a bit too mental for us. It's very cramped full of stalls selling all kinds of things. We wander around for around half an hour but soon get fed up of being dragged into stalls and pestered.
    On the walk back we feel our legs begin to tire, and are very pleased when we return to the room. I finally get to watch some Premiership tonight, and hopefully we'll feel well enough to have a few beers, unlike yesterday!    Read more

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    Thanh An Hostel, Hue, Day 2

    September 22, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Ouch! We aren't used to heavy drinking out here and in the morning we both feel the effects of the night before. Getting up slowly, Amy shaves my head (which was a scary ten minutes) and we decide to take a little walk along the river.
    We head down a few miles, passing some interesting sights such as the school where Ho Chi Minh studied, which is also the first school built in the modern era in Vietnam. We then head to the Ho Chi Minh museum. It's really intriguing to learn about the life of the man who is so greatly adored out here and some of the stories and exhibitions were great. After that we walked a bit further past a university and a train station, before heading back and getting out of the boiling sun.
    We are both very tired and not wanting any beer today so an early night it is!    Read more

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    Thanh An Hostel, Hue, Day 1

    September 21, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    A slow day today as we prepare to move on to Hue. We have a nice lie in in the cool, air-conditioned room and don't leave the room until midday when we have to checkout. It's only a few hours until our bus, so we get some dinner and play some cards to pass the time.
    The bus takes about 4 hours and drops us off right outside our hotel. The first thing we notice is how it is Mr Bean themed. Pictures of him adorn the walls inside.
    We go to the market to try and get some food but nothing catches our eye so we end up eating in a restaurant on the river that looks onto the pretty bridge, apparently designed by Eiffel.
    After that we come back to the bar underneath our room for a few drinks. A few drinks turns into a lot of drinks and we end up in the club across the road with the bar owner and an American teacher called Patrick. It's a good night, and very interesting to see a Vietnamese nightclub for the first time. By 2 o clock though, we are ready for a supper of egg and sausage sandwiches and bed, so we go back, ready to get to know Hue tomorrow.    Read more

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    Midtown Hotel, Phong Nha, Day 4

    September 20, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Our final day in Phong Nha before we move on to Hue tomorrow and we decide to head to Bong Lay (probably spelt wrong) valley. Again my bike had no brakes, but this time I knew to walk down hills instead of flying down them.
    After riding for a bit on the highway we pull off onto a small stoney/sandy/gravel road which almost makes bike riding impossible. Our first stop is called the Duck Stop. We are treated to a cold bucket of water over our heads and some peanuts but decline the Duck feeding tour. After working with ducks for years, it didn't seem necessary to do it again yet.
    After that we went a place called 'the pub with cold beer'. It was great fun and we even got a rubber ring each to float down the lake. We didn't stay in it long though as we soon found out the current was going the wrong way and they are very hard to steer.
    Finally, the wild boar eco farm, which is basically a restaurant with a pig pen in the front. The views were great, as was the food. The stuff that really struck me about the valley though was the friendliness of the locals. Everyone shouted hello and waved as we cycled along. It was a great way to end our stay here!
    On the night we went out to eat and whilst we were sat eating another lovely meal, the electricity came back on! The air con had returned. We rushed back and slept well for the first time in a while.
    That was until Amy woke to go to the loo, and on returning noticed a spider in our room that was bigger then any I had seen in England. We waited for a while frozen on the bed in fear until it left the room. We left the light on for the rest of the night and finally managed to get back to sleep. The nights here have been very eventful!    Read more

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    Midtown Hotel, Phong Nha, Day 3

    September 19, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Today we got up early and hopped back on a moped to do the Phong Nha Ke Bang national park loop. 65km of riding in the heat.
    Our first stop on the way is the paradise cave, and it is truly stunning. Firstly, it is cold, which after our last few days is priceless. Secondly, it is astonishing how big it is and the sculptures formed by the rocks inside are bizarre. It is a place that cannot be done justice with pictures. To be there and feel the cool air and hear the dripping off the rocks was a great experience. Everyone has said how great it is, and they weren't wrong.
    After that we rode the rest of the loop (probably another 45km) and that was also very fun. Going slowly to look at the wonderful scenery (and mostly through fear) was great. After the days spent inside during the typhoon it is great to finally get out and about and see what Phong Nha is really about (deep caves and big hills)
    We have heard that the electricity may be back on tonight so fingers crossed for air con!
    PS. 65KM DONE of crash free mopeding, I'm improving!    Read more

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    Midtown Hotel Days 1 and 2

    September 18, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    We move into town in the morning and find a cheap hotel. To our surprise the room we are shown to is lovely, but still no electric! We spend a day resting and taking small walks around the shops after our sleepless night and it is nice to be out of the hectic home life of a home stay recovering from a storm. We even have a balcony so we can get our washing done. On the night a generator kicks in! No air con allowed but the small fan in the ceiling does enough to put us to sleep.
    The next day some caves are open so we rent bicycles and try to reach them for the second time. We rent good mountain bikes so as not to have any problems. After an hour attempting to get to Phong Nah cave we realise we are on the wrong side of the lake so can't get in. I then get a puncture (two actually) so have to walk back for an hour until I find a mechanic who fixes it.
    We set off again, and after around half an hour of cycling, Amy's chain breaks. Luckily we find some local boys who fix it for us and the panic is over. We bike to the botanical gardens on a route that is much more uphill then we thought, but when we get there the wait is over. Monkeys, snakes and porcupines are seen in a small reservation pen, and the two small pools underneath the waterfall are so refreshing to dip in after our hot nights. The trek is around 2 miles through deep jungle and is great fun. We also meet two belgians, zeno and Tom, who are staying in our hotel! We take the tour with them and the annoying trouble with the bikes and steep uphill climb to get here are pretty much forgotten.
    On the way home we have trouble with bike number 3. The steep uphill is much easier to go back down, but I soon learn the inadequacy of my brakes as I fly down a hill screaming to Amy 'i can't stop!' I fly into a corner and somehow manage to stay on until a bit of flat road finally slows me down. It takes a much longer time for my heartbeat to slow down.
    We go to bamboo cafe for tea and meet zeno and Tom again, also a few Canadians we met the previous night join us. It's a good night, but still no air con in the hotel, hopefully tomorrow we will have more then just a fan to keep us cool!    Read more

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    Village House, Phong Nha, Days 1 and 2

    September 16, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    So we heard there was a typhoon coming, and people weren't lying. As we get off the half empty bus at half 4 in the morning, we are met by torrential rain. The offer of a free pick up has been forgotten as the whole electricity in the town has been switched off, so a half an hour walk in the downpour is our welcome to central Vietnam.
    Luckily we can walk into the home stay when we arrive and check into our room. We are told not to leave, and we soon see why. The noise of the wind and rain hammering the building is very loud, and the sight of the rain lashing down from our window is almost to the point of frightening. We have heard the typhoons out here are bad, and people weren't lying. As night draws in we finally step outside onto a driveway scattered with broken trees and leaves. We eat a dinner cooked by the family along with some other tourists and call it a day, hoping for a chance to explore tomorrow.
    As the sun rises after a very sweaty night (no electricity means no aircon) we are desperate to escape the home stay, so get on a few bicycles and try to see the caves. The typhoon has ravaged the landscape. Roads are blocked with broken trees and some houses on the road side are completely destroyed. As we were inside in a large sturdy house during the storm, the full power off it wasn't really realised until now.
    All roads to the caves are flooded, and locals drive out to them to get their laundry done. Children play in huge puddles on what should be highways. It is a very surreal day. As night draws in we head into town for some beers, and that means a very dark bike ride home. The night is hot, and there's still no electricity or no water, so we fight through it (I sleep okay but Amy hardly gets a wink) and decide when the morning comes we need to move into town, and we need somewhere that has some power during the night!    Read more

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    King Kong Hostel, Tam Coc, Day 4

    September 14, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    A quieter day today. After checking out of the hotel at eleven we have a ten hour wait for our sleeper bus. Luckily, the hotel manager lends us some bikes for free so we can go for a morning ride. After spending a few hours doing our final bits of exploring around this beautiful place, we go back and sit in the reception and relax for the rest of the day. The manager also gives me a copy of Anna Karenina to start so I read that. It's nice to relax after the last few days. 35 minutes left until the bus arrives! Wish us luck!Read more

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    King Kong Hostel, Tam Coc, Day 3

    September 13, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Another early morning and another bizarre breakfast or sticky, sweet bread. Today followed much of the same stuff as yesterday. There is so much to explore here in such close proximity that we get on the bikes again (despite the bum pain) and set off exploring.
    Firstly we go to temple that has three small pagoda built up a mountain. The temperature seems to be higher then yesterday and the climbing is tough, but the views of the goods and the buildings on the way is great. Add to that the dark cave full of screaming bats you have to make your way through and it all makes for a memorable morning!
    After that we explore the area, slowly riding whichever way we decide to turn. We end up going down a small dirt road which offers great views through the rocks.
    Dinner is at Chookies bar (again) and the tofu rolls taste just as amazing as the first time. We decide to spend the afternoon exploring the same route we did yesterday, but heading a bit further off the beaten track. It takes us down another dirt road through small villages that sit nestled between the giant rocks snugly. It is truly a beautiful place to ride through.
    We get back mid afternoon and succumb to whay I remember is our first afternoon nap. The riding and heat has exhausted us there last few days!
    To end the night, we go the Tam Coc pub which serves good cheap beer and some good veggie noodles for Amy.
    Thank God we did so we during the day, as the storm during the night makes sleeping very hard. The thunder sounds like it is in the room with you, and we spend a few minutes placing towels strategically under the windows to stop the leaking. All in all another rather eventful, and very tiring, day in Tam Coc.    Read more

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    King Kong Hostel, Ninh Binh, day 2

    September 12, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We like this place! Already we both feel like we have had a better nights sleep then we got at Cat Ba. The free breakfast is a fruity bread kind of thing that looks weird but tastes great so can't complain. After that we rent a bicycle each and head out. It's only about 9 o clock and we have a long day ahead.
    Biking through the quiet streets of Tam Coc is brilliant. The limestone rocks loom overhead as buffalos graze in the muddy water metres from us. You can be on a busy street one minute and feel like the only two people in the World the next. The Sun beats down and we are both covered in sweat as we arrive in Trang An, not really sure where we are or how we got here. An English couple point us in the direction of a boat ride and boy am i glad they did. Two and a half hours pass quickly as a poor Vietnamese lady rows us and a couple of German girls through the caves and streams of this amazing place. We duck as rocks fly by our heads as we slowly drift underneath the rocks (I only hit my head once which is good for me). We also get a glimpse of the temples that are adorned with jewels and statues (and cans of red bull??)
    It's soon mid afternoon, and as we head home we decide to stop off at Cave Mua, a breathtaking viewpoint right over Tam Coc. We climb the steps to the top of the hill, only for Amy to be attacked by a swarm of wasps. I don't know what she smelt of that day, but they certainly liked it. After a few minutes she knew it was a battle she couldn't win and we headed back, luckily for us as just as we pulled back into our hostel a storm hit. If we were minutes later we would have been drenched. It is the perfect end to a great day of exploring.
    Some much needed relaxation time is taken before we go to a bar for some food. The bar is playing songs from Frozen mixed with Taylor Swift and James Blunt so Amy, and secretly me, love it.
    It's now 8 o clock and after seven hours of biking, trekking and rowing in the Vietnam sun, we are definitely ready for a quiet night, and a bit of air con!    Read more

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    King Kong Hostel, Ninh Binh Day 1

    September 11, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    So another early morning and another day of travelling. It sounds simple, get up, pay off the hotel and then get on the bus. Of course, nothing is easy over here.
    The hotel doesn't take card, so I get on a moped and frantically try and get cash. Just as I am out the heavens open again in true Vietnam style. Within minutes I'm biking through a river trying to hunt down a cash machine that works. After three attempts I find one and finally pay off the hotel. Time to leave Cat Ba.
    We get on the bus, which takes us to a boat, which takes us to a bus, which takes us to a bus. After around five hours, not a bad trip compared to our others, we arrive in Tam Coc. We immediately love it. It has the nickname Halong Bay on land, and we can see why. The huge limestone rocks that stand tall in Halong and Lan Ha are just as prominent here on land. Travelling takes it out of you though, so after a few beers and a small walk we are ready for a bed. Free breakfast in the hostel means another early morning!    Read more

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    Nuom Phong Cat Ba Island Day 4

    September 10, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    After a long few days trekking and kayaking on this amazing Island, we decide we need a rest day is in order. Most of the day is spent in the hotel room napping and relaxing, before a final meal and some drinks at oasis bar. Cat Ba has great, but our time here is now done, and we are ready for the journey to Minh Binh tomorrow.Read more

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    Nuom Phong Cat Ba Island Day 3

    September 9, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Today was spent exploring the beautiful surrounding islands of Cat Ba. We got up early and headed to the office expecting a crowded reception. Luckily for us though, we had picked a day with only seven people on it. One of these people was Kev, a man whose job was to travel the world scouting activities for young kids to come and do. And boy did he talk about that. A lot.
    We set off at 8.30 and enjoyed a few hours of happy sailing past the floating villages. It's amazing to think people actually live on these places but they do, and they have very scary dogs that we were told to stay well clear of.
    Just as we were getting the hang of kayaking (as long as I was steering) the heavens opened. We hid on a beach under a rock as the rain poured down. Thunder that was so loud it sounded like a gun going off next to you shook us all as we huddled under the rock trying to stay warm.
    Finally though, after about an hour, the rain stopped and we headed back to the boat for some food. We got out again in the afternoon, as did the sun, and we spent it exploring the secret lagoons and beaches that surround Cat Ba. It was truly beautiful to sit on the calm water and listen to the wildlife and the waves.
    As we got back at around 5.30, we were tired. Amy was so tired she couldn't face going out for tea, so I went to get pizza and bought it back for her. I guess I owed her for looking after me in Ha Giang!    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Nuom Phong, Cat Ba Island Day 2

    September 8, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Our first full day in Cat Ba and we immediately decided that the only way to get around this gorgeous island is by bike. We climb back on and take it very slowly, which is kind of nice as we can take in the scenery around us.
    Our trip today is to the national park. As we get in it all looks a bit odd. There are three monkeys trapped in bare cages and a weird taxidermy building with most of the animals falling apart. But that's not why we're here. The trek we decided to go on is apparently the easy one. It's only a mile long, but the mile consists of climbing up steps and rocks through the deep, humid jungle. Wildlife runs about all around you. We see lizards, snakes, squirrels, a crab (bizarrely) but thankfully none of the spiders that live here (despite there being many big webs). It takes us about two hours to reach the top, and we are drenched. The views make it all seem worthwhile though, as we look out across Cat Ba and all its natural beauty.
    Amy doesn't look happy when I tell her there's another viewpoint a bit further up, but we make the short walk there anyway, where a rock is all you sit on as you look over the landscape from even higher up. The walk back seems a lot easier despite our legs getting wobblier by the minute. Thank God we had a moped to take us back!
    We drive straight to the beach for a cool off and to relax, unfortunately Amy has picked up 31 bites through her leggings on the walk so relaxing isn't really on the menu. We go back to the room loaded with tiger balm and go out for a meal in oasis bar again, before getting an early night, ready for a day on the seas tomorrow!    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Nuom Phong, Cat Ba Island Day 1

    September 7, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After looking at the prices of the Halong Bay cruises, we decided to skip them go the biggest island of them all, Cat Ba.
    The morning started early, getting to the ferry terminal to soon find out we had to wait a couple of hours for the ferry. The wait was worth it though, as we drifted slowly past the rocks that make up this place! It was truly beautiful and unfortunately no picture we took could do them justice.
    As we arrived and were bustled onto a crammed and stuffy bus for the trip to town, we realised we had made a good choice coming here. The scenery was beautiful and mostly deserted.
    We dropped our bags off and went to the beach (which is where I am writing this). It was busier then halong with more tourists so is a lot more comfortable.
    We took the short but uphill walk to cannon fort next. Hard on the legs but great on the eyes when you reach the top. It is the old outlook posts for the Vietnam anti aircraft gunners, and offers great views of the bay and the islands that lay off it.
    After that we felt we had earned a few beers, so went to the oasis bar, which is probably the best bar we've been in veitnam, serving the best food we've eaten in vietnam. When the beer is 10,000 dong (35p) it's very hard to complain!    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Alex Hotel, Halong Bay day 2

    September 6, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Our first full day in Halong and we decide to hunt for the coast. We haven't seen it yet and feel a day at the beach is definitely in order. Luckily for us we find the beach is a short walk from our hotel room, and what a beach it is. Long white sand gives way go a emerald looking sea. It feels great to finally get our bodies in some salt water. In the distance the rocks of Halong bay look sinister under thick black clouds, but the rain doesn't reach us too much. On the afternoon the sun comes out and we really start to feel like we're on holiday.
    We go to the backpacker hostel bar which is by and far the best place for food and drink we have found in the rather quiet Halong City and get ready for a ferry to Cat Ba Island tomorrow!    Read more

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