Day 5 - Vietnam Discovery from Hanoi to the Meekong Delta - 'Inside Vietnam' adventure with EXPLORE

The train steadily rumbles through the outskirts of Hanoi as we slowly but steadily leave the hustle and bustle of the fascinating Vietnamese Capital behind.  The carriages are starting to calm as people slowly settle to attempt some sleep.  It takes a while to work out how the lights work, turning the train announcement speaker off and how to lock the door! 

The ‘clickety clack of the train on the track’ is briefly interrupted around 1am by a few revellers who’ve apparently had their ‘social awareness’ setting temporarily disabled by alcohol.  They’re partying their way back to their carriage, wherever that is because apparently a screeched 106 decibel ‘Babe, Babe!  Where’s our carriage?’ has not been computed by her BFF’s internal GPS.  As they pass through our carriage they’re providing a maintenance task, checking the walls and windows for sturdiness, left wall, right window, left wall……. 

Some of our group describe their evening on this interesting night train as being a restless kind of slumber.  Overall, most seem to have managed a reasonable on and off 7 to 8 hours of some kind of slumber.  For me it involved a few head bangs during the night as the train driver tended to put the foot to the floor with the brake. 

After being hardened to the train’s speciality black coffee(?) yesterday, Nick, Miles and I ventured to the nightclub now turned restaurant car for some more of the scented tar/coffee of dubious origin.  We discussed the interesting events of the eventful evening on the train.  We enjoyed hearing about Miles’ evening of international diplomacy with his three French bunk mates. 

Hue City is almost upon us as the heavens open up again, torrential rain cascades down the windows heralding our entrance to the ‘perfumed city’ of Hue.  We’re all set and packed and disembark the train looking forward to a proper hotel room!  A new rustic mini-van and driver meet us outside the station entrance.  It’s a short drive to our next hotel and we leave our bags, a quick loo stop and we are whisked around the corner for a quick cruise on the perfume river 'Sông Húóng' with Sông meaning 'river' and 'Huong' meaning scent or aroma. 

The Gods send an ocean of rain our way as penance to make up for the sunny weather we were so gracefully granted yesterday for our cruise around Ha Long Bay.  Another mildly treacherous dismount via slippery stairs and a beer crate from the boat.  A few dodgy dismounts later and we hop over the road to visit the pagoda at the temple complex of 'Thiên Mun' (meaning Celestial Lady), we’re experts now at dodging scooters, needing barely a glance in either direction.  The main building is an imposing and beautiful seven storey Buddhist Pagoda with numerous other shrines and statues dotted around the grounds.  The temple dates back to the early 17th century. 

Back at Thanh Lich Hue Hotel and it’s check-in time.  The backpacker count on a quick walk around the streets has lowered from Hanoi.  We have this afternoon to ourselves, some head off to find photo opportunities, some opt for relaxation time in a bar, I've headed to the pool.  I get it all to myself again and spend an hour in the outdoor covered pool.  It's a very relaxing and destressing experience to just be swimming during a tropical downpour, rain beating down on the roofs watching scooters aquaplaning their way through the streets.  A torrential downpour is barely an inconvenience to daily life at this time of year in Vietnam. 

After my swim in the rather cool water of the pool, I choose room time rather than explore this afternoon to pen yesterday's goings on to this blog.  Two hours quickly pass by, as it takes me a while to remember all the activities and happenings of the day as our days are quite active.  My body reminds me I’m not 21 anymore when it’s time to get ready.  An hour's swim has me resembling C3PO in motion swaying towards the lift to reception. 

Our dinner this evening takes us winding our way in our taxis down narrow streets that would not be out of place in a 1980's gangster movie.  The restaurant is a family meal style affair and wow, do the meals come quick, 6 courses in less than 45 minutes.  A few chats and a few local beers and we're already heading back to downtown in a couple of taxis. 

My Olympic swimming session has me done for.  Some others retire too but the remaining souls hop over the street to keep the locals’ company at a lively bar close by on the street.  I understand later that one of our group was offered to visit a local establishment of ill repute for a good evening.