Wrap Up: 3700 mile, 27 days and no beer free nights!

Waiting at the airport for our return flight, thought I had better wrap up the blog.  After swapping Terry for Neil we headed onto Halon Bay to meet the girls.  The trip was, as expected, the worst ride of the trip.  Mile after mile of semi industrial sprawl till we hit Halon Bay.  A large, partially completed holiday complex.

The girls had sorted out accomodation and the next 36 hrs activity, a cruise from Cat Ba island, and boy it did not dissapoint.  We left the Halon Bay appartment at 0630 (lucky Neil) and rode with the girls on the back of our bikes to the Cat Ba ferry.  The one hour crossing was simply stunning, the scenery imense and clearly the cheapest way to see these stunning islands.  

Once on the island we rode to Cat Ba itself, a bit of a groptty tourist trap and then boarded the small boat that was to take us to our cruise boat.  On the way we swam from the launch, had a magnificent lunch and generally chilled.

Once on the main boat we moved into our rather nice cabins and theh set off for a paddleboard adventure, sadly it turnd out that the paddleboards were not unsinkable when faced with David.

Back to the boat for dinner and supposed squid fishing, fishing, not catching being the order of the day.  We were also treated to our host Tony's (a local Vietnamese teacher) lesson on the lunar calendar, communism politics and Under The table Money (UTM).  The next day saw one of the more surreal moments of the trip for me.  I was sleeping in when Kay waltzed into our bedroom in a swimming costume and said “I am jumping out of the window……. And so is Helen”

After another night in Halon Bay we set off for Hanoi, sadly the bikes are not allowed to use the motorway so it was another 2 hour slog through industrial roads but made all the better by arriving in the Hanoi old quarter.  An exceptionally vibrant place. First thing was to get the bikes washed (Tim not keen on helping the little old lady).

Then off to see the famous Train Street, that did no dissapoint.

Finally, we ate like kings at a variety of local bars and restaurants:  Pho noodle bowls, pork spring rolls, Bahn Me sandwiches and BBQ fishy thing, served by Tim.

Finally it was time to return the bikes, count the cash deposit and head for the airport.  Overall Hanoi, what a top place!

Luckily Neils mates had not been idle during his absence with two stow aways taking over his kitchen!