SaturdaY, Februari 22, 2025

We slept well on the Syrene Cruise. We wake up around seven, too late to rush to join the first part of the day program, but we actually planned not to join yesterday.

When the excursion returns, we are told that the intention is to now put the luggage on the back of the cruise ship, empty and lock the cabin, hand in the key and pay the possible bill.
It costs us less than four drinks at Cafe de Paris in our hometown of Apeldoorn and we have certainly drunk double that amount.
The boat has now started its return journey and we start with brunch.
At a quarter to eleven we are back at the departure point and we are taken to shore.
The guide and the driver are waiting for us there.

The rest of the day is all about travelling. The first part is the car ride from Halong to Hanoi Airport, a ride of over four hours.
Halfway through, a short break is scheduled, at a company that offers products made by people with a physical disability. They are beautiful 'handicraft paintings', and there are also gemstones and jewellery for sale. Both of us are that interested in that, but Pia does buy a bracelet of beautifully cut green stones.
The last part of the drive goes through Hanoi, where it is very busy.

But we arrive at the airport well in time. Fortunately, we can check in immediately and then we say goodbye to the guide, too bad, he is a nice man.
We go through the security check and have to wait more than two hours before we can board a flight to Hue, our next destination.
We eat a plate of pho (bami soup), not really tasty, and we look around a bit.
After a while we board, the plane is full and the seats are cramped, but for a good hour that is bearable.
The ride to the hotel is quiet, the traffic is very different from Hanoi, much less chaotic. The hotel, the Êmm Hotel Hue, is a half hour drive, the reception is friendly and fast. The room is not that big but neat and comfortable.
We eat something at the hotel bar, we don't feel like looking for something in a city where we don't know our way around at all. The lady behind the bar wants to send us to the restaurant first, we don't want that, so we stay where we are. The lady turns out to be quite nice and helpful. Tomorrow we will be picked up at half past eight to visit Hue.

Written on: 2025-02-23

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