The Homestretch

Back from the wedding with a few more open days. We filled them with a food tour in Hanoi and an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay.

As always, food tours are a staple of any travel experience and this one didn’t disappoint. Coconut milk coffee and Bánh Khoái (a small, crispy, pan-fried rice pancake filled with meat and sprouts) were my two favorites.

On Saturday morning, we took a two hour ride from Ha Noi to Ha Long Bay with a stop at a bamboo store. I found lots of great items for my planned sabbatical at the end of the year — bamboo bath towels that quick dry and a package of kitchen wipes. This looks to be the start of the pile.

I was mildly disappointed with Ha Long Bay. Everyone says it’s a must stop in Vietnam but I’m not sure I would recommend it. Ti Top Island was overrun with tourists and the boat only goes about ten miles off shore. At night, we could still see the lights of the city. The saving grace was the cruise manager Kevin. He obviously loves his work.

Now we head back to Hanoi for a late night flight back to Chicago.