Good morning Vietnam!

Quing Zow! (Hello!)

After the initial, inevitable culture shock of entering our first Asian country, we have settle in to life in Hanoi very well. The city is a crazy mix of weaving traffic, beeping horns, hawkers hassling you to buy their tourist tat and the most amazingly colourful and varied shops, restaurants and pagodas.

At first the city was a little overwhelming, but we have just returned from 3 days in Halong Bay and it doesn't seem so bad now. We have been to Ho Chi Minh's burial tomb, (but he is being touched up in China at the mo), to a water puppet performance and to the many markets and shops scattered throughout the city.

Andy Castro has returned to China now after spending 5 days with us. Halong Bay was possibly even more stunning than New Zealand. We were back in (those damn) kayaks again cruising through the stunning scenery of Halong and Cat Ba Island. It was great to see Andy again after 18 months.


It is hot here (as you would imagine in summer), but we are heading off to the hills (of Sapa) in a few days time so hopefully it will be a lot cooler there. We are living in luxury for $30 a day and that includes everything - accommodation, food, travel and Bai Hoi (local beer - 8 glasses for $1!). Getting to grips with the local language too. Andy in fact nearly got us into a Bai Hoi drinking contest with 4 local men while practicing his Vietnamese! Linguists......