Travel | Fifty Four and Counting

Ho Chi Minh, a city like New York, Paris and London.

Ho Chi Minh CityfiftyfourandcountingNovember 25, 2016

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, five million inhabitants in the city and two million on the outskirts. It’s a crazy place with no rules on the roads, street traders, peddlers and everyone with someone to see, somehere to go and something to do. Now imagine modernising the city, add a further three million people,…

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Hoi AnfiftyfourandcountingNovember 23, 2016

Hoi An, it’s people and silk worms

Welcomed by Tien our guide with her infectious personality and smile, the journey from Danang was around 40 mins to our…

AirlinesfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Vietnam Airlines – safety first!

We were given great seats on our 1 hour flight VN 185 from Hanoi to Dnang (airport for Hoi An). They…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Clean toilet, no paper and a shower hose!

Ok so this is an image of a clean toilet, complete with loo paper on the right and a hose on…

AttractionsfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Tai Chi from the East meets beech from the West

The morning started with Tai Chi on deck at around 7-45am Tai Chi is a very calm and controlled balance. Our…

AttractionsfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Halong Bay – The 7th natural wonder of the world, a hammer and a torch

To get from Hanoi to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise requires an early departure around 7am. Mondays traffic was madness…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 21, 2016

Good Bye Hanoi

As we leave Hanoi for the final time we head East to Halong Bay. Hanoi certainly leaves a memorable impression on…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 20, 2016

Church Boutique Hotel, Hanoi – all good in the end

So this may seem confusing .. it was to us.. you see we stayed initially in Hang Trong Street our first…

HotelsfiftyfourandcountingNovember 20, 2016

Mai Chau Valley View Hotel, Vietnam – simple comfort and warm hospitality

In the middle of Mai Chau Valley stand a number of hotels.. they all have phenomenal views and offer warm Vietnamese…

PeoplefiftyfourandcountingNovember 19, 2016

And we think moving house is a challenge..

In the mountains above Mai Chau live the Hmong (pronounced hu-mum) people. They are farmers mainly but as a side line…

Mai ChaufiftyfourandcountingNovember 19, 2016

Mai Chau and it’s way of life

To the West of Hanoi, some 4 hours drive away, stands a most stunning valley called Mai Chau. The valley floor…

HealthyfiftyfourandcountingNovember 18, 2016

I’ve been told this bottle contains natural Viagra!

So we stopped by the side of the road where we stretched our legs and had a drink. The street vendor…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 17, 2016

Hanoi Street Food Tour.. and the meaning of ‘sticky rice!’

Last night we took a walking tour in the old quarter streets of Hanoi. Visiting different authentic street food vendors was…

Cathay PacificfiftyfourandcountingNovember 16, 2016

As we approach Hong Kong.. the chap on my left speaks..

As we approach Hong Kong, from the under carriage camera we see the sun rise above the horizon .. 10-44pm GMT…

Cathay PacificfiftyfourandcountingNovember 15, 2016

Here we go!

Well we are boarded, presented with champagne, socks, headsets and dining options. Captain says flight time 11 hours and 18 mins…