A chicken pho breakfast at 0730 and we’re off by 0800 to a market 22km away, at a small village we passed yesterday. The market is at Xa Phin and it opens only on snake and horse day.
Vietnam 2013 Day 10 – Dong Van surrounds
Vietnam 2013 Day 9 – Hagiang to Dong Van
This happened on the 3rd of March 2013.
After breakfast of what seemed like an instant pho with fresh vegetables and a fried egg, we took a walk around the village for an hour and a half.
Vietnam 2013 Day 8 Hanoi – Hagiang
The events described on this day happened on the 2nd of March 2013.
The ride from Hanoi to Hagiang is about 8 hours long. Hagiang, pronounced Hajang, is 318km and I’m going farther north than any other person I know who has been to Vietnam. In fact, I will travel right by the Chinese border.
Vietnam 2013 Day 7 – Hanoi again
Today, I opted to be guided by a student from the Hanoi University. They take you on a walking tour of things you want to see. But of course, knowing that nothing is for free, especially in Vietnam, I knew that I had to tip them, in addition to the entrance fees, the transportation and meals you’re going to have to pay for while they’re with you.
It seems like a good deal but I think I hit a dud.
Vietnam 2013 Day 6 – Van Lung and Phat Diem and return to Hanoi
Another early day starting out at 7am breakfast with Pho at the hotel.
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Vietnam 2013 Day 5 – Outskirts of Ninh Binh
It’s only Day 5 out of 18 and yet I feel like I’ve been on a great adventure already.
Today started out with breakfast at the hotel. Again, another wonderful baguette. With a simple omlette and salt and pepper and butter. I had some Vietnamese green tea with it and I was also given a plate of cut fruit of banana and pineapple.
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Vietnam 2013 Day 4 – Halong Bay to Ninh Binh
The morning agenda planned by the tour company is 0630 of tai chi with the sunrise. I was out of my room with no intention of tai chi-ing. Instead, I wanted to take photos. There was no sunrise to speak of.
Still, I enjoyed the quietness of the place and heard the birds awaken and start singing, I noticed the tai chi leader nodding off in her chair as she waited for no one to appear.
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Vietnam 2013 Day 3 – Hanoi to Halong Bay
Day 3 and I was picked up by a guide who took me to a waiting bus to get to Halong City and then transfer to a boat.
The bus ride takes 3.5 hours and 0.5 hours are spent at a miserable gift shop which has toilet facilities with very short doors. I felt like I was in kindergarden again.
Vietnam 2013 Day 2 – Hanoi, the Old Quarter
Today, I spent quite an inefficient day exploring the old quarter. According to my GPS track, I walked 28km. I returned to the hotel three times in between, so had many repeated routes.
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Vietnam 2013 Day 1 – Singapore – Hanoi
Nothing in life is truly free. So when I cashed in my almost-expiring frequent flyer miles for a ticket to Vietnam via Cathay Pacific, I knew I would be paying with my time.