Hanoi was splendid. Museums, pagodas, a lot of motorbikes and a lot of people. We discovered night life. According to law, all bars close around midnight, but a number of them will let you in if you knock the door. If police comes by, they are bribed. It seems this pattern suits all parts. It might be a welcome income to the policemen, who are not paid that much, and the bar owners and guests can have the nightlife they want. Hanoi has mostly the same chaotic way of life as Saigon, it seems. Street sellers, a billion small shops, a billion restaurants, bars and hotels and a billion tour offices all trying to convince you to go somewhere on a tour.
Of course, I’ve experienced a lot more about Vietnam and Vietnamese than what I’m telling here, but I can’t seem to find the time or relaxed environment to reflect upon all of that. I’ll see if i can find some time for a recap when I get home, and let you in on some of it.
We took a tour to Cat Ba island in the Halong Bay. A trip for three days and two nights. Once at the island, we expanded the stay for two more days. Cat Ba and Halong Bay is great!
We’re now back in Hanoi. I tried to upload some pictures and write a post while on Cat Ba, but power continued to fail, and I gave up after wasting a good deal of time doing photo resizing and editing (which is mostly just waiting, since computers are so slow here).
Anyways, here goes again, let’s see if I can make it this time.
The view from inside a great, big cave on one of the many mountain islands of Halong Bay.
After we visited the cave we needed to cool down.
We spend the night on the boat. Here’s the sundown with all the other, similar boats anchored. The sound of generators for light and aircon units hums in between the mountain isles. At night, a full moon rose, and four french nurses showed us a film of a Vietnamese woman giving birth. That was their icebreaker, apparently.
The day after, we went hiking on a mountain. It was hot. I don’t think I’ve ever been sweating that much before. I was soaked, dripping from everywhere. Had to put my wallet and phone in the bag or they would drown. But it was a great hike.
A bit of the view from the top.
After the hike and a decent lunch, we were in for some kayaking. This is the entrance to an otherwise completely isolated ‘bay’ surrounded by mountain. Pictures can’t tell the beauty and amazement of that place.
Lasse climbs up and jumps off the cliff.
Cute French nurses, bathing, laughing and talking like nymphs in the sacred bay.
A visit to ‘Monkey Island’.
Took a picture and turned around. This bastard jumped me and bit me in the leg.
Here it is. Luckily, we had plenty of caring nurses around 
Of course I consulted my doctor and the local pharmacy. I am now on penicillin.
Out and around the islands there are communities of small houses, apparently growing snails, fishing renting kayaks and what have you. These cities are common to most of Vietnam, whenever there’s a river around. But this is right in the middle of the south china sea.
Then we went rock climbing and got pissed in a thunderstorm, but that story is for tomorrow. I need to eat now.
Just so you know: There is at least one person who appreciates you put some of this in English. Tack.