A day of travelling - but soon after breakfast or first meal as they call here - we boarded a bamboo boat that allows us to pass thru a natural tunnel into a lagoon. Alas it was raining - so the umbrellas mared the view somewhat - but quite awesome still.
After cruising around the bay - we were served a late brunch and tendered back to port. Met Phong and driver - who took us to Hanoi Airport - for flight to Hue. On the way we stopped at the state run factory where disabled children and adults victims of Agent Orange are employed. Embroidery, lacquerware, marble carvings and statues, jewellery, linens, clothing are made there. We purchased some items to encourage them, signed the welcome book - suspect this is a stop that Phong is required to make but we felt it was well worth it and welcoming and difficult to talk ourselves out of having things shipped home. Quality, price and beauty of items difficult to describe.
A long wait at the Hanoi airport for our flight to Hue. Arrival in Hue at 930 pm - met our new guide for the Central Vietnam tours - Lee. He will teach us Vietnamese in two days - he said. We meet him at 8 am to start our day - it is significantly hotter here - 35 degree - on average - so an early start is a good idea.
Hotel is by the Perfume River - the service level improves as we move further south - am blogging from the lobby - it is late - looks like we can download some photos from here - will attempt to do so for tomorrow's entry.
