Halong Bay's towering limestone cliffs and teal waters are certainly a sight to behold. It has a magical feel... serene and inspiring as many of the 1600 islands have not yet been explored. We decided on a 2 day boat trip with one night sleeping aboard. A9 and G7 loved our cabin on the top deck and exploring all the nooks and crannies of the boat. We visited the suprising cave ......and it certainly was; surprisingly massive caverns as far as the eye can see, surprisingly great view from the top, suprising how many tourists you can fit through said cave at any one time, suprising how bad the public toilets on site can smell, and suprising how much serenity is broken by a massive generator powering all the lights in the cave. As kiwi's, we are so lucky to have our National Parks protected from mass tourism. Kayaking at sunset, night time squid fishing, karaoke, happy hour, spring roll cooking lesson, visiting a pearl farm and the amazing food on board, all made for a memorable few days in Halong Bay.
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Hanoi is certainly a city on the move. With a chaotic myriad of vehicles travelling in any direction, and the footpaths packed with parked motorbikes and street cafe's, it's tricky knowing where to step. The old quarter is certainly full of life! Vibrant lanes where you can buy pretty much anything if you find the right street. Clothing street, paper street, metal street, chicken street, and the dutchman's favourite.... beer street. What Hanoi lacks in walking ease, it makes up for in charm. In the middle of the old quarter, is Hoan Kiem Lake. It is both picturesque and delightful with colourful flowers planted along the wide walkways and the gorgeous Ngoc Son temple positioned on a small island in the middle of the lake. During the weekends, the lakeside becomes a pedestrian area which is alive with families and tourists enjoying the change of pace. From bun cha to oc luoc to egg coffee, the food here is divine and affordable. You can eat in proper restaurants from around 40,000 (NZ$2.40) per meal, or perch on the sidewalk for around 25,000 Dong (NZ$1.50). Read more about local cuisine on the dutchmans food blog... Our trip to the Imperial Citadel was a great chance to stretch our legs away from the hustle and bustle of the old quarter. Just a 15 minute walk from the old town, the steep stairways lead you from the palacial grounds up above the imperial gates built by the Chinese rulers during the Ly dynasty (11th and 12th century). The citadel remained the military power hub for the next 1000 years under Vietnamese and French rule. We saw archeological remains from the 11th century and bunkers 3 stories underground built much later during the Vietnam war. Visiting the botanical gardens at sunset is a real treat. Locals use the park for their daily fitness... tai chi, aerobics, dance classes, weights, running, cycling, badminton, soccer, hackie sack. Just a stroll around the corner and you are at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, where his body lies embalmed for your viewing pleasure. The diverse history of this great capital makes for an interesting city experience. Hanoi has a lively feel, with moments of calm thrown in for good measure. |
finding freedom with four backpacks
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