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ig sundeck on top it had everything we could<br />
wish for. As we cruised along slowly taking in the<br />
breathtaking scenery from the sun deck it was so easy<br />
to understand why Halong Bay has such an amazing<br />
reputation, but no picture could ever do justice to<br />
how stunning it really is. Later that evening we were<br />
treated to some of the best Vietnamese food I have<br />
ever tasted, all made on<br />
board by the ship’s crew.<br />
Halong Bay is known<br />
for its stunning sunrises<br />
and so it was with<br />
great excitement we<br />
all ventured up to<br />
the sundeck to watch<br />
the sun appear over<br />
this majestic place,<br />
and we were not to<br />
be disappointed one<br />
bit. I have had the<br />
privilege of witnessing<br />
some beautiful sunrises<br />
around the world but<br />
none of them came<br />
close to this; as the sun<br />
rose over the many rock<br />
formations it truly felt<br />
like a humbling experience.<br />
STREET FOOD IS A MUST IN HANOI<br />
After breakfast we disembarked and headed<br />
back to Hanoi airport where we had a short<br />
flight to Danang and then a 45 minute<br />
drive to Hoi An. Having sold Hoi An for<br />
many years I thought I had a good idea of<br />
the area but what I was greeted with was<br />
one of the most charming towns I have<br />
ever encountered and I absolutely loved it.<br />
With its old traditional rooftop buildings<br />
bustling with local crafts this was a shopper’s<br />
paradise and I was about to indulge. The<br />
friendly shopkeepers allowed us to browse<br />
without any pressure but still enjoying a<br />
little bartering as we purchased so many<br />
beautiful items. A number of the group even<br />
had custom-made suits created by the many<br />
tailors, the quality of which was outstanding.<br />
After a leisurely morning we headed off for<br />
a walking tour of this ancient city that has<br />
been influenced over the years by a myriad<br />
of traders from various cultures. Originally a<br />
busy Cham Port, the town also has Chinese<br />
influences scattered about, with pagodas and<br />
assembly halls found down the streets.<br />
Our tour guide regaled us with stories of<br />
old as he pointed out the different buildings<br />
and the history behind each one, before<br />
delivering us to the stunning Japanese<br />
Covered Bridge (Cau Nhat Ban). With so<br />
many different influences for such a small town,<br />
Hoi An really is a melting pot in such harmony.<br />
This evening we dined along the river before some<br />
more last-minute purchases and a cocktail or two in<br />
this beautiful town that had quite literally stolen my<br />
heart.<br />
HALONG BAY IS ONE OF THE NEW<br />
NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD<br />
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