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Off the train in Hanoi and after a quick freshen up and breakfast at our original hotel, it was off by bus to the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise on a junk. About halfway to the port, we stopped at Xa Sao Do, a handicraft centre run by survivors of Agent Orange and other handicapped Vietnamese. Instead of being a rather dull and depressing place, this centre was delightful. It puts emphasis on the artists and they produce some really amazing paintings, drawings and other crafts. We were told 65% of the cost of any item goes back to the artist concerned, while the other money goes towards running the centre. We purchased a couple of beautiful needlework pieces that we now need to get framed.
Arrival at Ha Long Bay was followed by being taken out to our junk in a tender and getting allocated cabins, then moving up to the top deck to take in the astounding rock formations that make up the area. I think I only took about 400 photos, so here is a selection.
Our home for the next 24 hours
Someone else's home for ?? days. New cruise ship terminal under construction
Ha Long Bay also has amusements and a cable car across part of the bay
Local fishing boat
So many different rock formations
Mooring to go ashore to see one of the caves
Coming ashore to check out the limestone caves on one of the islands
Late afternoon
There must be worse places to relax with a glass of something cold?
Sunrise
Morning, and a return to port, came far too soon
All too soon we were back on the bus heading back to Hanoi. However there were two stops an the way. One was a pottery making everything from small bowls to large garden pots, while the other was a marble factory. We *think* the marble factory was also associated with the handicraft centre we visited on the way down, but we're not sure.
Pour in the slurry; excess flows out the bottom
Waiting to be fired
Loading the truck
Painting the pattern freehand
Waiting to go in the kiln
And at the Marble Factory...
As I said at the last marble factory, all tastes are catered for
Last night in Vietnam! It's been a terrific time with a very interesting group.
Today we finally leave Hanoi in Vietnam for the more laid back town of Luang Prabang in Laos. We should have gone mid-morning, but due to a failure of a certain person who shall remain nameless (cough), we were delayed and arrived in Luang Prabang after dark, having spent more time than we'd expected in Hanoi. It did, however, allow us to find an outdoor photographic exhibition around the corner from our hotel near the lake.
Cooling our heels waiting for the next flight while overlooking...
... this outdoor photo exhibition. The streets around the lake had been closed to allow families safe access for Women's Day
Next stop, Luang Prabang
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