Vietnam & Surrounds Day 08

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Day 8, Thursday, 3/20/25, Ha Long to Hoi An

We arise at 6:30 and have a buffet breakfast on the boat. Very good Vietnamese food. The boat has pulled it’s anchor and is under way. There is an early morning Thai Chi class on deck that Elee joins. The bay is very calm as we start to move.

We go to Dao Titop Island with a beach! (see pics) to hike. The small tenders that our boat tows along take us in. Some people climb to the top. I choose to go about halfway. Fun place. There aren’t many islands with beaches in Ha Long Bay. This one even has a couple of bars. It is too early to drink but it sure is tempting!

We hang out on Titop for a couple hours, then get back on the Junk for the ride back to Ha Long City and have brunch on the Junk. I try a Ha Long Classic Beer that is a typical Pilsner but it is cold. On the way back to Ha Long, we hang out on deck for the most part and watch Junks and other ships traveling and working. There is a large freighter unloading cargo barges in the middle of the bay!

It’s time to check out and leave the Junk boat. We board the bus for the 3 hour ride back to Hanoi (sometimes spelled Ha Noi). At a rest stop, I find some Lays Pringles cans called “Stax” with interesting flavors! I also spy a tour company’s van that my Brit friends will find interesting! And back in Hanoi, I spot a sign on the first restaurant we ate at announcing it is a Michelin Selected location!

We pick up our luggage and wait at the TK123 hotel for an hour and a half for our ride to the airport. We check in our luggage and get a meal. We get 2 entrees and 2 drinks (in an airport) and it costs us less than $12 USD! We are traveling to Da Nang with a group of 9 people who we have been getting to know for the last few days. It’s a great group!

We land in Da Nang and there is a van waiting for us. The guide tells us he is just with us to the hotel. We are actually traveling to Hoi An which is next to Da Nang. There will be a lady guide tomorrow. An hour ride in light traffic to the hotel. Nothing like the traffic in Hanoi. We will be staying at the Garden Palace Hotel & Spa. This is, by far, the best hotel yet!

We arrive at the hotel after 9:30 PM. Restaurants here are closed. A fellow traveler says he found a small store a hundred yards away that has snacks. Okay so it’s prawn flavored potato chips and dried fruit that includes durian!

Good night all!

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