Day 1-2 UK to Hanoi
Travel started at Heathrow terminal 4, departing in the morning on an overnight flight to Hanoi via Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines arriving on day two. Being an west to east flight the night was short and we arrived in Hanoi at around noon on day 2.
First two nights at the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi this is situated on a very busy junction, with traffic which amused me for hours.

Day 3 Hanoi
We enjoyed an included full-day tour of the former French colony of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, complete with elegant tree-lined avenues, lush parks and iridescent skyscrapers.
The city was colonised by the French in the 19th century, Hanoi has elegant tree lined avenues and lush parks which are in harmony with Vietnamese culture and history.
Highlights included the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, the simple house which Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from 1958 until his death in 1969 is nearby we also saw the Lake of the Restored Sword with its Tortoise Tower Pavilion.
In the evening we enjoyed a visit to a traditional water puppet show, where wooden dolls appear to perform on a stage made of water.

Day 4 Hanoi to Ha Long
This morning we left the hotel in the morning and travelled through the rich farmlands of the Red River delta to Ha Long.
Upon arrival in Ha Long, there was a cruise aboard a private junk in Ha Long Bay. There are 3000 islands which are said to have been formed by a dragon flailing its tail on a heaven bound journey. We also visited the beautiful caves where stalactites and stalagmites abound. Overnight at the Novotel in Halong which is right by the side of the bay and had beautiful views of the islands.

Day 5 Ha Long to Hanoi to Hue
This morning we had to travel from Halong back to Hanoi Airport, flying via Da Nang airport and then travel up to Hue by coach (approx. 2.5 hours) arriving in Hue late afternoon. Hue was the country's capital for nearly 150 years; Hue saw some of the fiercest fighting during the Vietnam War which destroyed most of the old city.

Day 6 Hue
Today there was an included tour of Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a trip on the Perfume River aboard a dragon boat as well as a visit to the impressive Imperial Citadel. Also a visit to the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Dong Ba Market in the afternoon.

Day 7 Hue to Hoi An
Journey along the Pass of the Ocean Clouds en route to Hoi An. There was a visit to the Cham Museum to see the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world and a walking tour of the ancient town centre visiting the famed Japanese Bridge.

Day 8 Hoi An
Today we had the option of a boat cruise to see some of the local crafts and meet the people who lived by the banks of the river. The boat owner clearly thought we were nautical and he allowed some of us to steer the boat.

Day 9 Hoi An to Nha Trang
The transfer to Nha Trang airport started at the ungodly hour of 4.00am before flying to Nha Trang, this seaside resort has a touch of the French Riviera about it and was used as a mecca of relaxation and entertainment for American GIs. We visited the Oceanographic Museum which houses many tanks of local sea life.
After lunch, we took an afternoon city tour with visits to the Po Nagar Cham Towers and the Long Son Pagoda.

Day 10 Nha Trang
In the morning, there was a cruise through turquoise waters to offshore islands where we saw local fish farms and the opportunity to ride in a coracle.
Afterwards, there was a seafood lunch on Con Se Tre Island.

Day 11 Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City
The morning at leisure in Nha Trang before transfering to the airport in the afternoon for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City - formerly Saigon. This city was the capital of the anti-communist south when the country was divided
On arrival we visited the Notre Dam Cathedral and the post office.
This evening we enjoyed a dinner cruise on the River Saigon.

Day 12 Cu Chi Tunnels
One of the great highlights of the trip was the visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, about 75km north west of the city this incredible underground network was constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters. These tunnels were first dug in the 1940s as a defence against French colonialists, but it was during the 1960s that Communist resistance forces constructed a network of over 250km of tunnels. These tunnels even went right under the headquarters of the US Army's 25th Division. Afterwards, there was a visit to a project for the Support and Education of Disadvantaged Children in Vietnam, before continuing to Cholon (Chinatown) and, the lively and colourful Binh Tay market.

Days 13-14 Ho Chi Minh City to the UK
Today was at leisure before travelling home to the UK.
I took this time to visit the Binh Tay market which is aimed at locals and sold everything from live fish, meat, foodstuffs and tourist bargains

Overall I found the trip to be extremely interesting; the people we met were always keen to try out their English. The weather was very hot, even on the days without sunshine. Food was good, consisting mainly of vegetables and seafood. The only life threatening moments were when trying to cross the road in the citys, motor bikes and mopeds everywhere, but I survived.