Vietnam Day 9: Halong Bay and back to Hanoi.

Remember when Megan and I were on the cruise to Alaska and I’d share the view each morning? This was this morning’s view outside my cabin door.

By the time I emerged ready for the day, we were parked outside the island we’d be exploring. The difference from yesterday is that this time, we’d be going inside. This whole thing is pretty much hollow.

We’re going to see Sung Sot Cave. It was discovered by a pair of Frenchmen in 1901.

Again, it was a steep climb to get where we were going. It looks like there’s a lot of people here, but apparently this is nothing. We got here as soon as it opened. Later in the day it’s mayhem.

I don’t know who’s thick enough to need this sign to keep them from plunging over the edge, but here we are.

There are 3 caves here. Robin, who’s been here about 400 times in his 20 years of being a tour guide, told us that they get progressively bigger.

The official version of this is that it’s a pointing finger, but it looked a lot like “cucumber and tomatoes “ to us.

The caves were huge. It was clear that the whole island was simply a hollow shell.

Wanda was with me.

The guides were using laser pointers to show various things. I’ve forgotten what most of them were, but this one is meant to be a dragon.

This one is a turtle, with Chinese people leaving money next to its head for luck.

Romeo and Juliette on the balcony.

It was a one way walk through the caves, with our tender moving around the island to pick us up at the other side. It took around 45 minutes from go to whoa.

And Robin was right. The last cave was HUGE.

John took this shot.

As we ate breakfast, the boat turned around to take us back to the bus.

I would happily come back here and spend more time with. It’s so beautiful.

All too soon, we were in the bus heading back to Hanoi.

There are 3 million children in Vietnam who are affected by Agent Orange. We stopped at a big shopping centre/coffee shop that employs people affected by it.

30 years ago an ex soldier opened up the coffee shop. There are now 4 centres across the country to help the children.

I bought some lotus tea. I thought it would go well with the weasel coffee I bought in Hoi Anh.

Lots of communist flags everywhere. This was a particularly striking colour combination.

I started taking shots from the bus window. It was a long drive.

Vietnamese houses are incredibly tall and skinny. Here’s a view of the house from the side…

And here it is from the front.

Rice paddies everywhere.

Suddenly the bus stopped. Robin had spotted a field with farmers in it, transplanting the little rice plants. Those of us who wanted a closer look walked over.

1 month ago they planted the seeds. Now they’re digging them up to replant in the big rice fields. 3 months later it is harvested. If they’re lucky and have good weather, they earn $800/year.

It’s mostly old people who plant the family rice field. The kids prefer to work in the factories. Sometimes a family will let a neighbour work their land, because the government will take back fields that aren’t being used.