On the night train to Sapa…

January 26th, 2002 at 12:00am

I am on the night train to northern Vietnam…it’s 10pm now and the train is due to arrive in Lao Cai at 6:30am tomorrow morning. Then it’s on a bus to Sapa and I’ll be in the mountains. This is actually my first sleeper train ever and I am lucky to have 3 other Western girls in my cabin. Actually I was originally in the one next door but there were 3 Vietnamese guys in there, and well, let’s just say I prefer to be with the girls. So it will be a relaxing night I think.

Today we left Cat Ba Island with a 4-hour boat ride back to the mainland and then a 4-hour bus to Hanoi. The weather was still gloomy all day but having good company made for a good day. Noi and I shared a hotel room last night and we had dinner together as well. She is really such a nice girl – I am very happy to have made a Thai friend.

On the boat it was Noi, Don, me and Annie from Australia. At one stage another boat pulled up selling fresh prawns and crabs (literally catching them and selling them) and so those guys bought some and had them cooked on the boat. I really don’t know anything about the cost of seafood but apparently it was very cheap and really good too.

I had dinner in Hanoi with Noi, Don, Annie and another guy Paul before getting on the train. Thai food believe it or not but Noi was missing her food from home. It was excellent…now I am ready for some rest.

Views of Halon Bay, Vietnam

Buying fresh seafood right on the boat

Noi and I having a beer (trying to keep warm!)

Entry Filed under: Halon Bay,Vietnam