We sadly left Hanoi, heading south, on the Reunification Express. The Reunification Express is a rattling old train that travels north to south and visa versa picking up what feels like the whole of Vietnam on the way. Despite it's age it has a very posh new tv that shows musical asian soap operas for the entire journey........very loudly!
We are now in a lovely, clean hotel in Ninh Binh after checking out what is locally known as the Inland Halong Bay. Essentially limestone outcrops set amongst waterways that you can sail upon in a sampon. We hired bicycles to check out other local sights such as temples and caves that exist on the waterways along the way. A great day apart from having to navigate Highway 1, which is the backbone motorway of Vietnam. Everything and everyone travels on it and at great speed, honking as they go along at anything that it happens to be passing. Let's say it was a stressful experience but very peaceful once we were off Highway 1.
One thing to mention is Ninh Binh Water, a local liquor, that can only be described as paint stripper. Apparently Vietnamese woman consume it by the bottle.
Tomorrow we get a sleeper coach to Hue, the Imperial City of Vietnam and hopefully after that we will laze on a beach for a few days. As we're pooped!
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