2024 - Vietnam by e-Bike

22-34deg C "Sightseeing tour including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum; discover the unknown part of Hanoi Old Quarter and evening water puppet show."  After breakfast, Wendy went back to bed while Greg went out with the mob to see the Ho  Chi Min Complex. Security was a little OTT but we managed to pass the dress code and "the essential items only" requirements. Although the Mausoleum was closed today we did see the changing of the guard. It was then onto Uncle Ho's residence, his garden and his garage. All very simple and befitting a good communist.   Next stop was Vietnam's First Uni which was established in 1070, initially to teach the elite but later expanded to included gifted common folk.   It was then time for lunch. We have found the food here in Hanoi far superior to anything we experienced in Saigon or along the way. Today's lunch did not disappoint, although the fish dish was a bit on the oily side. After all that excitement it was back to the hotel ...

25-36 deg C "6.30 Tai Chi session on the sundeck at the break of dawn.  6.30-7.30 Coffee & tea with cookies and pastries available.  8.00 Explore Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot), one of the largest and most famous grottoes in the entire Halong Bay  9.30 Check out your cabin and settle bills.  9.30- 10.30 International breakfast buffet served in the restaurant  11.00 Arrive back at Ha Long city for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to your hotel in Hanoi. Hotel: Anatole Hotel Hanoi." There was no Tai Chi session this morning. A light breakfast was had before boarding the tender to visit Hang Sung Sot, aka the 'Surprising' Cave. While we have seen a few caves in our travels around Australia, none have been quite a large nor extensive as this one, and we wouldn't say it is the most spectacular cave either. There was a lot of stairs, and boardwalks, pity we didn't have Strava on. Surprise Cave in Halong Bay also has another common name as S...