"MY 1ST STOP IN VIETNAM... " a Hanoi Travel Page by balhannah

This city is quite a culture shock.

The streets are narrow, the footpaths are full of motorbikes parked, and roads full of motorbikes and a few cars and taxis.

People cook in the streets, the shops are narrow, and spill out into the street.

People are everywhere.

Buildings are narrow and high, It is dirty, with no rubbish bins, they just throw everything on the street, then in the evening, a rubbish patrol comes and picks it up.

It is also very smoggy.

People pester you to buy there goods, and often, if you say no, they follow you.

You also get pestered to take a cyclo ride or a motorbike ride.

I took a cyclo ride, and thoroughly enjoy seeing the city this way.

My driver was a nice person, who spoke good english and stopped for me to take photos.

They deal in US dollars and the vietnamese dong.

12/3/08.........

The "PERFUME PAGODA TOUR" is very scenic.

Its about a 2 hour drive to reach the destination.

Sitting on narrow steel benches in a local row boat, expect to get a sore bottom, as its 1/1/2 hours each way!!

On arrival, you walk past lots of eateries, with all sorts of animals hanging up. Really different, had us all talking about the different animals they eat!

There is a cable car you can take to the top, or you can walk.........
Our group took the cable car to the top.

There wasn't much to see from the Cable Car, and what there was, was spoilt by heaps of rubbish being dumped into the landscape!

The Cave was interesting, and there were lots and lots of people here.

This trip I enjoyed.

13/3/08........... A day tour to HALONG BAY

I didn't have very good weather on the day I went, but still enjoyed the trip.

Remember, it can get quite cool on a bad day, so take something warm with you to wear!

The outcrops looked very mystical as their tops disappeared into the mist.

We visited a fish farm, saw Cuttlefish, then had lunch on the Junk.

I did an optional tour with a local that took us through caves, it was lovely, cost 50000 dong, well worth doing if you get a chance!

We cruised for a while, then visited a large cave, which was absolutely beautiful.

You can't even get away from the hard sell when on a tour here, they pull up beside the boat, and hop on. We all groaned!!

The downside was another disorganized tour, which took 11 1/2 hours, this made it an exhausting day.

14/3/08 A day tour to TAM COC

Another 3 hour journey.

We stopped at a Temple first, then went onto where the rowboats leave. A local man rowed us, it was so tranquil, and the scenery fantastic.

We went through 3 caves.

This was a very enjoyable trip, probably, about my favorite!

17/3/08............

Did a private tour to the national park.

This is out in the country where you get to see local life happening.

I saw ducks, pigs, water buffalo and a coffin!!! on the back of a motor bike.

The park is for hiking, but what I went to see, was the endangered Monkeys.
Most of them were Langurs from Vietnam, with One race, only having 68 left in the wild.
They are breeding well in captivity.