Hoi An

Just left beautiful, beautiful Hoi An, about halfway down the Vietnamese coast.  The riverside old-town is traffic-free and full of centuries old Chinese and Japanese style buildings, conical hat wearing street peddlers, and at night it's all lit with brightly coloured paper lanterns.  Cycling around with the boys riding shotgun on the luggage rack we've seen wood-carvers (holding the wood in bare feet while chiseling away), watched Chinese lanterns being made in a dis-used temple, and the boys helped make incense sticks using the pulped bark of a local tree. 
And we've all been very, very childish since discovering that the Vietnese word for happiness is 'phuc'!

Dining with friends

Hmm, which friend should I have fried?

Hue

The boys have felt famous since coming to Vietnam, everywhere we go people want to be photographed with them. In Hue now, close to the famous de-militarised zone. Boys very interested in all the tanks and bullet holes. Took motorbike taxi's (3 to a bike, adults behind the rider, boys standing up between rider and handlebars) to the Nguyen Emporer's Citadel. Suspect the boys will remeber the journey more than the Citadel.

Cat Ba island

Kim: Cat ba island was really awesome. Quiet and peaceful. The cafe's were good, especially the pancakes. The beaches were nice and the island was said to be made from a dragon's ashes. We went cruising round the islands, kayaking and rock climbing. I jumped off the roof of the boat into the water - it was scary at first, but fun, fun, fun.  The rock climbing was really good fun as well, I climbed as high as the roof of our flat in London. I was really impressed with myself.

Ned: I liked the island. We played on the beach and went kayaking and rock climbing. The first climb was as high as our flat, but the second climb was flatter and I went even higher. It was very scary, because when abseiling down I thought I was going to crash into the rocks. But I enjoyed it. I really liked the kayaking and would like to do it again. I even kayaked on my own. I held a live starfish that I'd found in the shallow water.  

Round Three

Our first taste of Vietnam was the cheery chaos of Hanoi. Streets so busy with a tide of scooters, motorbikes, bicycles and the occasional car that it spills up on to the pavements at times. Played 'who can spot the most overladen motorbike', which Kim won, and we quickly mastered the art of crossing the road (walk slowly and let the traffic flow around you).
Tried to visit Uncle Ho, but he was 'on holiday' in Russia for his annual embalming make-over. Not sure what he'd make of the tourist tatt shops that line the route through his home complex?
Prices not as cheap here as we'd hoped, so budget is being stretched already. And LloydsTSB not only blocked my cashpoint card (again), but my Lloyds Mastercard got swallowed by an ATM. Thanks for making things easy guys!     

Hong Kong

Brief stopover in Hong Kong. Nice to show boys where we once lived. Kim says "I didn't really like Hong Kong at first, but might need a few more days to make up my mind."
The skline may have grown (even more buildings, subways and skywalks) but it's character feels like it hasn't changed much in 20 years. Still same currency as pre-handover, and just as many gwailo's and other foreigners. If anything it's even busier.
Rode the Star Ferry and trams, saw the lights from the Peak at night, and ate in McDonald's for old times sake (bad parents!).
Departed to airport 2 hours too early (doh), but just as well because travel agent hadn't confirmed our flights properly and had to argue. Got standby seats 10 minutes before gate closed and had to sprint through terminal. Typical.

Round Two