Dong Hoi

After spending one more night in Hanoi after Ha Long Bay it was time to catch the sleeper train to Dong Hoi, leaving at 10pm and arriving at 7.30 am. Spent the time before catching the train swanning around the old city.

The traffic was manic, so much so that a young woman from Italy, who was crossing the road near us was knocked over by a moped. It failed to stop, and left her bleeding and unconscious. Helped until the ambulance arrived. Yvonne in full first aid mode.

Great discovery, beer hoi is at least as good as medi prep (for those of us who know) in clearing the colon completely, lol. Mike truly hopes it was the one batch!!

On the train, group on a package tour were in the same sleeper car, but just couldn't get their act together. Arguing about bunk spaces, not reading the number of the bunk correctly. Eventually got settled, Yvonne on top bunk, Mike on Bottom.
Both managed some sleep...

Got to our 'homestay' to find that there was one young lady running the place, as all the staff had gone home for Tet. Tet is very important as its not just the new lunar year, but a time to remember family past and present. Everything closes. Loads of fireworks, only we were a good distance out of town, so we didn't see many. 

In fact Vietnam closes for about 7 - 10 days and it is quite difficult to get around.

Place is called 'Ocean View', only there isn't. To be fair we can hear it, and it is about 200 metres away, but obscured by trees.  In any case it is in fact the south China sea!! Lucky for us the local airport is only 3 miles away so we get a few good sights of very low flying aircraft right over our roof.

We decide to explore for 2 days, then move further south. Before we go book a tour to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, in order to visit some caves. Mike is pleased to learn that it involves walking up an incline for 750 metres, and over 900 steps, up and down. May well turn out to be a tomb, he thinks. More about tombs later....

Mike about to pass out on the sleeper train; Yvonne looking good by the road side; Yvonne's new job; Hanoi in manic mode.