Xóm Ngoài

Tuesday 4th July
Very quiet start to the day with no-one about when Peter & Sue got up and sat on deck watching the boat wake up. After the storms last night the day was still overcast but much clearer. The crew just sleep on the floor or wherever. At 6.30 Hieu arrived and conducted a 20 min Tai Chi session, finishing it off with a handstand, on the mainsail mast which was 1 m above the deck.
Followed by a nice breakfast and then the boat moved a short distance and we got ready for the next activity - going to the Luon Cave, by kayak or bamboo boat. Louisa & Peter tried the kayaking, Sue, Therrie & Ross went in a bamboo boat. We went through a tunnel with the roof just high enough to paddle through before entering a cove or lagoon, maybe 10 to 20 ha in area with straight cliffs towering over us on most sides. I guess it was a cave and then the roof fell in. The trees and shrubs grow all over the walls and it was very quiet, apart from the splashing of paddles and chattering of people in the kayaks. On the far side was a troop of monkey feeding and playing around. They were oblivious of all the people and probably played up a bit to show off. Lovely place.
Back on board to find Justin finally up and about, a bit of viewing time before we had to get out of our rooms and then Hieu did a little cooking demonstration of how to make Deep Fried Spring Rolls.
The boat then began making its way back to harbour, again with about 100 other boats and when we arrived we were provided a final sit-down lunch, including the spring rolls.
A general farewell between the guests, then onto the tender and a short wait for our bus and then the 4 hour bus ride back to Hanoi.
Looks like many of the little shops are closed today with the trip being quicker than the day before, again we stopped at another factory / coffee shop with handicrafts available.
Back to the hotel by 4.30pm to a little bit of rain and very humid.
Ross & Therrie found a lovely rooftop restaurant for dinner and the rest headed to a place called New Day restaurant. We were taken up to the 3 rd floor which was 1 table for 10 in a tiny room. Good service and very tasty food.
A bit of a walk around after dinner but pretty quiet due to the rain & Tues night, so back to the hotel early.

Weather - Very warm (32C) and very humid. Rain in Hanoi, heavy for a brief time.

Highlights
* Waking up in Halong Bay;
* Doing Tai Chi on the boat at 6.30am;
* Luon Cave, with the monkeys.
* Dinner in HanoiLes mer