Because survival is insufficient
Morning on the boat in the bay, with more incredible views and fantastic food, before a long bus ride back to the craziness of Hanoi. The insane traffic and buzzing night market are indescribable, an assault on all the senses as you put your life in the hands of a thousand moped riders every time you cross the road, and your faith in the immune system every time you sample a street-brewed "bia hoi" or an unidentified morsel of deep fried mystery meat.
Halong Bay, Vietnam, is stunning. Our boat is superb, a triple dealer with en-suite cabins, a bar and restaurant, and sun loungers on the top deck. After a lunch of freshly caught fish and sea food, Vietnamese style, we sail to a spectacular limestone cave. Then I take to the water in a kayak with Steve, and we paddle around the islands. After a while we find our own private beach on one of the islands, and I go swimming in the wonderfully warm waters of the south China sea. Dinner is even better than lunch, and the view of the bay as night falls is sensational with the many boats lit up and the islands in silhouette.
