Vietnam

Our trip is going great. We were in Bangkok for a few days getting our visas for Vietnam. It was great to be back in South East Asia. I forgot how much I loved the food, especially the fresh fruit. On the fourth we flew to Hanoi and hung out in the city for 3 days. I don't know if I can describe this city. I'd have to send a audio tape along with a nose for you to get a good picture. There are 2mil. motorbikes for a 3 1/2 mil. population. I don't think anyone here has a drivers license. The streets are marked but noone follows any of the traffic signals. It is an adventure just to try and cross the street. The first day we sheilded ourselves behind a Vietnamese pregnant women while dodging traffic. Figured if she could make it we could too. The vietnamese are not as nice and honest as the Thai's but things here are soooo cheap that you don't think about whether they scam you out of 20 extra cents. We went up North on the border of China to Sapa and rented a russian motorbike, a minsk. It was a lemon but it was a great experience. There were lots of hill tribes and green and lots of marihuana plants. Since they are not allowed to sell the opium I think they've switched to Marihuana.
--- We just got back from a trip to Halong Bay where we spent 3 days 2 nights sleeping on a boat, kayaking, swimming. Now we are back in hanoi and going south tonight to Hue on a 13 hour train trip. We have been go, go, go. But now we are hoping to relax a few days, wash our clothes, and go visit some beaches.