Tuesday 4th November 2025
Home
With just under two weeks until we go to Vietnam, we have seen news reports of serious flooding in Hoi An.
The clean-up looked well coordinated but the main rail line that the Reunion Express runs on has been disrupted.
As we will be traveling south to Hoi An on the Reunion we are monitoring the situation.
The weather forecast reports another storm is expected when we arrive in Vietnam.
Friday 14th November 2025
Leaving Home
Here we go again...adventure time.
Off to Vietnam and Cambodia.
We planned to do this tour in 2020 but it got cancelled due to Covid19 shutting the world down.
Step one today, drive to Heathrow for our flight tomorrow.
With a full charge in our car battery we left home and started the three and a half hour drive south.
Taking the scenic route out of town due to a road closure we were soon heading south.
Driving through the heavy rain and strong winds of storm "Claudia" we made slow progress.
Arriving in Garston we plugged the car into a fast charger and had lunch while it charged.
It's recommended to leave the car with 80% battery when it won't be used for a while.
Driving on to Heathrow we parked in Terminal 4 long stay carpark.
Being a Heathrow Airport retiree gets Martin free long stay parking at the airport.
Jumping the shuttle bus to the terminal we only had to walk along the connecting walkway to our hotel for the night.
We are staying at the Premier Inn Heathrow T4.
As we were a little early we got a coffee and chilled for a while.
Checking in we found our room and cleaned up before dinner.
Saturday 15th November 2025
Heathrow
Travelling day two, flying to Ho-Chi-Minh City in Vietnam.
Waking up in the Premier Inn Heathrow T4.
We were awake before our alarm went off. As it was half six we decided to get up get washed and go down for breakfast.
Collecting our cases from our room we took the 10 minute walk along the raised and covered walkway to terminal 4.
Dropping our cases at the Vietnam Airlines desk we were told that they are checked through to Hanoi, so we don't have to collect them in Ho-Chi-Minh City when we transfer.
Collecting our boarding passes we made our way through security.
Everything went smoothly until the bag x-ray machine.
Jackie's bag got pulled for a secondary search due to problem on the x-ray.
Turns out that the two bananas Jackie got from breakfast were flagged as a possible drug concealment.
After a drug wipe test we were free to go, as bananas are not a prescribed drug lol.
Now airside we had a couple of hours to chill.
Walking around the shops and people watching.
There was a man walking around wearing a pilot's uniform.
His uniform wasn't a great fit and he came past several times.
Unlike the other aircrew who are business like heading towards their flight.
Maybe he is pretending to be aircrew, we will never know.
After an hour our gate was displayed on the information board.
So we made our way to gate 3, at the very end of the terminal.
A short while later we started boarding and 15 minutes later us economy peasants got to board.
Taking our seats we taxied out and took off.
The flight is almost full, but the third person in our row moved seats to be with her family.
As we were left with two of us with three seats, we spread out and settled in for the 12 hour flight.
The cabin crew came and asked Jackie if she had ordered a vegetarian meal.
We had talked about it but not done it.
It makes sense as a lot of Vietnamese food is cooked with shellfish seasoning.
We think that Explore may have done it as they are aware of Jackie's allergy.
We were trying to explain Jackie's allergy to the cabin crew and not doing well, when we remembered Jackie's allergy cards that we had printed out.
Showing the card cleared everything up, so getting the cards has proved to be a great idea.
After a nap we hit a patch of turbulence and were bounced around for a while.
Then with a plus six hour time change it was tomorrow.
Sunday 16th November 2025
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Day three, flying to Hanoi for the start of our tour.
With eight hours flight behind us and two hours before landing it was time for hot towels to wake us up and then breakfast was served.
We are currently over Myanmar having just passed over the Bay of Bengal.
Landing at Tan-Son-Nhat Airport at six fifteen in the morning local time, only 5 minutes late.
We have a connecting flight in two and a half hours from terminal 3 and we are in Terminal 2
We took the usual 15 minutes to get off of the plane.
After a short walk through the terminal we arrived at the passenger transfer stand.
Here we were each given a sticker for last minute passenger.
This didn't make any difference as we had to join the massive queue for immigration.
An hour later we had made it to within twenty people from the desk when.......shift change.
All the immigration staff stood up and left.
Ten minutes later we were back in action.
An hour and a half after landing we made it to the baggage reclaim.
Although we were told at Heathrow that our bags would go straight to Hanoi, they didn't.
Finding our bags we then proceded through customs and handed the bags back to the airline.
Leaving terminal 2 we walked the five minutes to terminal 1 and found the transfer check-in.
Boarding passes checked and after a security screening we arrived in the gate room.
For the shuttle bus to terminal 3.
After ten minutes the shuttle arrived and five minutes later it dropped us off at gate one in terminal 3.
Our flight was boarding from gate 24.
Yes we had to walk the full length of the terminal and arrived at the gate as last call was announced.
With our boarding passes inspected again we boarded the bus to be taken to our aircraft.
At last, boarding by the back stairs we gratefuly sat in our seats as the doors shut and we taxied out.
Arriving in Hanoi we collected our cases and found the tour representative.
Climbing into the minibus for the 45 minute drive to the Nesta Hotel for the next few days.
Waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour until our room was ready.
We were given a welcome drink, a yellow sweetish concoction.
Having done the research it was Artichoke Tea (Trà Atisô).
When our room was ready we went up.
Time for a quick wash and we are going exploring.
Battling the mopeds and scooters we managed to cross the road.
We checked out the local supermarket to see what is available if Jackie cannot eat safely.
Walking on we found train street.
With a train due in half an hour we found a table in a cafe and settled in for a coffee.
The train was late but it was still a shock how close it was when it eventually arrived.
In the evening we met the rest of the group before going out for dinner.
A nice meal in a local resteraunt before retiring to bed, exhausted after three long days.
Hanoi
Out on a tour of the old town today. A leisurely breakfast at 07:00. Down in the lobby for nine o'clock and on the coach. A 15 minute drive brought us to Ba Dinh Square. Queueing to get through security took about fifteen minutes.
This is the square where the Independence Day Parades happen and is overlooked by Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Having taken in the sight and watched the guard changing we proceded around the back to the Presidents house.
We also saw Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, where he lived and worked. He refused to use the palace and wanted a simple house. Next was the One Pillar Pagoda.
Jumping back on our coach we drove through the old town. We were dropped off and made our way to a Street cafe where we tried Street food. Nice food but nothing special. Walking on we arrived at "Bun Cha Dac Kim", one of only 3 Michelin "Selected" restaurant in Vietnam. We had their signature dish "Bun cha hang manh" Pork strips and patties in a spicy broth with egg noodles.
Leaving the resteraunt we took a ride in local rickshaw. Weaving through the traffic around the old quarter of Hanoi was crazy. It rained a little and the driver offered us a plastic sheet to keep the rain off. We thanked him but declined. We knew that as soon as the rain stopped we would dry out quickly.
At the end we pulled up outside the Water Puppet Theatre. Getting in for the three o'clock performance, we took our seats. Water puppets were a traditional entertainment amongst the workers in paddy fields. It was great. The puppets are controlled using long poles under the surface of the water.
Then it was time to head back to our hotel. Stopping at an ATM for some local cash (dong), we became millionaires instantly. A million dong is about £30.
Tuesday 18th November 2025
Hanoi
Moving day today, so we repacked our bags last night.
Our main bag is in storage and we have our overnight bag for our stay on a junk in Haylon Bay.
On the coach and driving out of town, it's about a three and a half hour drive.
Once we cleared the morning rush hour traffic and hit the main road it was plain sailing.
We only had to stop twice once for a tour of a pearl business, and once for the driver to bolt the windscreen wiper back on that was waving out of the side of the coach.
Pulling into the cruise port we got through the check-in process quickly and boarded a tender to get to our junk.
On board we got the key to our cabin and dropped off our bags before lunch.
Once we had eaten and the junk had moved we went for a ride on a small boat through a cave and into a lagoon in the centre.
Although it rained it didn't dampen our spirits because some of the ladies had a few with lunch and were happily singing any song that came into their heads.
Back on board we chilled out.
We should have had some time on a beach, but with the weather, who wants to sit on a beach in the rain?
In the evening we met for dinner.
After a few drinks and food Jackie decided to order a cocktail and picked a "Flaming Lambogini".
Wow, what a performance.
A burning tower of glasses finishing off a cocktail.
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Halong Bay
Early start today, up at half five.
First breakfast, coffee and a croissant before taking a tender to Sung Sot Cave.
Climbing the steps into the cave we spent the next hour exploring the cave.
Back down to the landing for the trip back to our boat.
Then it was time to pack and vacate our cabin.
Second breakfast otherwise known as brunch followed while we sailed back to find our coach.
Driving back to Hanoi we stopped at Hong Ngoc Fine Art.
Art produced by disabled people, a legacy of agent Orange in the Vietnam war.
Back in Hanoi we stopped at our hotel to collect our cases before heading to the station for the overnight train to Da Nang.
With our train departing at 19:45, we will be travelling through the night and tomorrow morning.
Boarding the train we settled in for the night.
Da Nang
Waking up on the train. The night passed reasonably well, being rocked to sleep then woken by a slamming door or a station announcement.
We ate our breakfast bars that we brought with us from home, knowing we would need them on this train journey. Then Huan, our tour guide arrived with bananas and apples, so we had a nice breakfast. At the end of the carriage was a water dispenser that supplied hot and cold drinking water. So we had a coffee with breakfast.
With another three hours before we arrive, we watched the paddy fields and houses passing.
Arriving in Da Nang we disembarked and made our way to our coach for the 45 minute drive to our hotel in HoiAn. Stopping on the way for Banh Mi (a baguette filled with spicy beef, pork, egg and pickles).
HoiAn flooded earlier this week and locals are still cleaning up. The road outside our hotel was still flooded so the driver parked with the door over the curb, so we could get off. After freshening up in the hotel, we dropped a load of laundry at the front desk.
Leaving the hotel for a walking tour of the old town. With the flood waters receding we waded through the occasional flooded road and muddy streets. We passed numerous work teams busily cleaning.
Visiting the Japanese Covered bridge and Cantonese Assembly Hall and The Old House of Phung Hung. Making our way back to the river we waded across the bridge to a resteraunt for dinner.
The staff met us a the door with buckets of water to wash the mud off of our feet, which was a nice touch. After a fantastic meal, we walked back to the hotel for the night.
Friday 21st November 2025
HoiAn
We had two activities planned for today.
First we took a golf cart buggy out to a farm.
When we arrived we were given smocks and coolie hats and went out into the fields.
Walking around we saw many plants that we have ingredients from, but never before seen the actual plant.
Helping the farmer plant a crop was interesting.
Back inside we were treated to a cooking lesson.
Making spring rolls, mackerel in banana leaf and pork pancake.
While the mackerel and spring rolls were cooking we had a head and foot massage.
When our food was cooked we sat down to a great meal.
Heading back into town we stopped at a lantern making company for a lesson in making traditional lanterns.
We had fun making our own lanterns and seeing the final result lit up.
Back at the hotel our laundry returned and we went for a other walk through the old town.
The street clean-up is nearly complete with a few areas still being worked on.
In the evening we went out for dinner and then walked back across the river enjoying the lanterns as we went.
Saturday 22nd November 2025
HoiAn
Another moving day.
We are flying to Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon at lunch time.
So breakfast, pack and check-out by nine and waiting for the coach to take us to Da Nang airport.
Checking in, we all made our way through security and waited at the gate.
Boarding went smoothly and we were soon sat at the back of the aircraft, only separated by two rows.
In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) we retrieved our bags and found our coach for the drive to the hotel.
Checking in we walked to a local cafe gor a late lunch of Pho.
This is meat and noodles in a broth.
Very tasty.
After eating we found an ATM and replenished our millionaire status.
Deciding on a walk we found the Cafe apartment.
Then walked doen to the river.
This is where Martin's sandal decided to part company with its sole.
Fortunately we always have duct tape and could patch it enough to get back to the hotel.
Sunday 23rd November 2025
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
On a walking tour this morning.
Meeting in the hotel lobby, we were soon out exploring Saigon.
The weather has improved and the sun is shining, so factor 50 and a hat is the "rig if the day" (navy slang).
It's nice after the rain and floods in HoiAn.
Walking through the streets we passed the Opera House and Notre-Dam cathedral.
Arriving at the Reunion Palace, we entered and had an hour exploring.
Seeing the tanks that crashed the gates to force the surrender of South Vietnam and ending the war.
Moving on, a short walk further we came to the war museum.
Lots of American weapons and vehicles.
The agent Orange section was particularly hard to see, but important to understand.
Stopping a cafe for lunch, we returned to the hotel.
Later Martin went on a Vespa scooter tour.
Jackie went on a solo sight seeing tour up to the Sky Deck of the Bitexco Tower.
Later we met in the rooftop pool and bar of the Kin Hotel for a cocktail and a catch-up.
Then back to our hotel for the night.
Saigon
Slightly earlier start today, out of the hotel at eight and on the coach for the two and a half hour drive to the Mekong Delta.
Boarding our river boat we cruised up the Mekong River for a while. Pulling up to the bank we transferred four at a time onto Sanpans for a tour up a side channel.
We had to stop a couple of times as cloth got stuck in the propeller. After a while the water got so shallow that four drivers got out and pulled and pushed one boat through. It was decided that wasn't the way to go and we disembarked at a very steep bank and steps. Completing the trip on foot we arrived at a farm/cafe for fruit and tea.
There was traditional singing and music. Auld lang syne and Frère Jacques if you could pick out the melody. Back on our river boat we continued our cruise. Crossing the main channel we headed up a connecting canal.
Puttering along we overtook a couple of cargo boats. At lunchtime we pulled into a home stay resteraunt for "Elephant Ear Fish and rice.
Just along the canal we dropped into a family business making coconut sweets and puffed rice. Then on the boat for the last leg to our bus pickup point.
Returning to our hotel we shopped for picnic stuff as we have a long day travelling tomorrow.