I dreaded writing this blog. I started drafting it on my phone on the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, but I have had to sit down and blast it out, with the help of my personal journal I've kept along the way.
When I left Cambodia, I nearly cried. Now I've left Vietnam, I think I've left a part of my heart there. Nothing and nowhere has disappointed me in my 15 day tour.
I flew to Hanoi from Hong Kong, and checked into a backpackers for one night. Free beer at 7 turned into a pub crawl with football and happy balloons. Check out the next day was a daunting prospect, and I got a Grab to my next place, where I was meeting Sam. I got into the room early and slept. Glorious sleep! The only thing I did that way was go for a fancy meal with cocktails, and watched the football. I got up for 6.30am to welcome Sam to the country.
We didn't do much the next day: went to the Lake of the Restored Sword and its temple, and walked around. We got interviewed for Vietnamese social media about the football. If you see it, let us know. I'll be the shiny sweat ball.
Our second day we went to The Women's Museum, and the National History Museum. It spanned the country's early times and had more detailed exhibits on their history with invasion and revolutions since the 1800s. The Women's Museum is full of stories of female comrades from the American War, badass killers. I enjoyed that more than reading about how some girls get married at 14.
Our pause by the lake saw us converse with Minga (sic) who was 12 and wanted to practice her English. She wants to be an accountant and go to Cambridge. She likes to play badminton.
Football at the pub, and bed.
On to Halong Bay. A few hours to the harbour but phwoar the boat when we got there! Our cabin was lush, such a shame we were only there for one night. We went kayaking, which I hated. It made my bum and back ache. But then we got to go in the hot tub (not warm) and everyone could mill about swimming or lazing on the inflatable trampoline.
Best bit was beer yoga. Delo, our yogi for the session, was a good laugh. Then we gathered for a group photo and had a bit of time before dinner.
The food on the boat was really great, except breakfast which for me turned out to be toast. They had special vegan/vegetarian plates which was good.
Queue massive party including a staff performance which was wicked.
But I drank too much and went for a lie down about 9. I eventually got back up at 1am to find the party way smaller, and Sam and I got smuggled into the staff quarters to watch the England v Tunisia match. As you do. Imagine having to be silent watching that.
The next day we transferred to Freedom Island, a private island which is essentially a beach sandwiched between two rocks and a house on it. It was, even with my dislike of beaches, the definition of paradise. The sun shone and burnt us, the sea was warm and jellyfish-free, and the beer was cold. Most of us were knackered though and after watching Japan v Senegal I went to bed.
Back to the boat the next day for a cooking demo and lunch, then back to the mainland and to Hanoi.
A sleeper bus to Phong Nha was not that bad an experience. We arrived at 4am and kipped in a hammock until breakfast.
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