Ha Long Bay, Vietnam...

Ha Long Bay was recently named as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It includes over 1600 islands and islets of limestone cliffs.  This bay is know for it's emerald still water and sky scraping cliffs.  The day we went was misty and raining the whole time, but it created a mystical effect while sailing through the islands.  Could not get over how amazingly beautiful it was!  I would like to come back here in the summer to go swimming of one of the boats in the bay.  Another crazy thing I couldn't get over was how cheap having a private junk boat with a gourmet Vietnamese seafood lunch was... $4 for 4 hours plus lunch!!!  Yes please!
One of the ancient legends is that the islands were formed by the Mother Dragon who was sent to protect Vietnam and its people.  Everywhere she surfaced, an island was formed.  

This little girl actually jumped onto the side of our junk boat and was trying to sell us some fresh fruit.  We had to keep saying "No thank you" until she left.

A floating village fully equipped with a bank.  They also had a school house and other random "stores".

Our own private junk boat! 

Steamed prawns with veggies and hard shelled crab cakes. 

Fried spring rolls and "fried potatoes". 

Stir fried squid... delicious!

Best part of the meal!!  Fried butter fish with a fresh tomato and scallion relish! 

Katie and I devoured the meal!  They just kept bringing out dishes of food, so we kept eating!  Good thing we both LOVE to eat :)

A cave in one of the islands that was just discovered about 10 years ago.  Crazy it's been here so long, but it was just discovered!  It kind of reminded me of Ariel's Grotto the way they had a lot of the colored lights in it.

The only actual light in the cave. 

Overlooking Ha Long Bay Cove from the cave.

FACES of Vietnam...

Vietnamese children on a school trip.  Guess it's the same in every country... single file line and holding on to each others shirt so no one gets lost. 

A local just passing time on the sidewalk.

Graduates at the Temple of Literature in their traditional dress. 

College kids at Temple of Literature kicking back and sketching by the garden. 

Locals sitting in front of a Cafe on the corner.  This was very common in Hanoi to have chairs and tables on the sidewalk as their seating area.

Local with his potato cart. 

Those oranges look delicious, but we didn't try them.  Just a little hesitant to buy any local fresh fruit or veggies. 

Caitlin... this one's for you! 

Yep, everyone was acting like this was completely normal...

This lady came by and placed her baskets on my shoulders, so of course I had to take a picture.  I think she wanted us to buy a banana though... whoops.

Dinner time!  Couldn't believe this was an entire kitchen/restaurant on the side of the street.

AND, this is a typical intersection in the Old Quarter.  Look closely to all the directions the scooters are going.  They didn't even stop at all!  I actually got hit by one walking down the street.  I would have walked on the sidewalk, but it was already taken up by parked scooters...

Fresh fruit stand on the corner.

This little street was just extremely busy and packed with shops and restaurants.  A little too much for me actually. 

Very cool looking rice paper lantern shop! 

My favorite dish of the whole trip... Chili-lemongrass chicken!!  AMAZING!

Hanoi, Vietnam...

Hanoi Hilton was the prison during the Vietnam War where they kept the American pilot POWs.  It was extremely erie walking through there trying to imagine some of the conditions the prisoners had to endure.   

These were the first pilots pulled out of the water during the Vietnam War and were held as prisoners at Hanoi Hilton. 

The flight suit John McCain wore when he was captured.  It was very interesting reading about some of the POW's stories of when they were in there.  I definitely want to learn more about it!

Katie and I in front of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.  Honestly, I could have done without going there, but we had to since we were in Vietnam.  Kind of weird inside. 

Presidential Palace next to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.  All important political discussions go on in this building.  This area was surrounded by the many embassys and Ho Chi Minh's residence.

Standing in front of the One Pillar Pagoda.

Pretty lotus flower hanging and decorations at the pagoda.

Temple of Literature (Confucius' Temple) was a university in the middle of Hanoi.  We actually went on their graduation day.  It's a tradition to take traditional Vietnamese pictures around the university at graduation.

Cool looking dragon at the Temple of Literature.  Dragons were a big deal in Vietnam. 

Katie and I got pedi-cab rides throughout the Old Quarter.  There were a few times that I was scared for my life.  Vietnamese don't believe in driving on one side of the road or using stop lights/stop signs.  They will drive where ever they feel like (usually on both sides of the road) and never actually stop when going through intersections.  Their idea of a turn signal is honking their horn.  And did I mention, there's probably a million scooters, cars, and trucks driving on these narrow roads where the sidewalks are used for scooter parking and restaurant overflow instead of pedestrian traffic.

I made it alive and safe! 

Hanoi Cathedral 

Hoan Kiem Lake right outside of Old Quarter.

We decided to walk around a little bit to pass some time before the water puppet show.

Water Puppets are a Vietnamese tradition.  They put on a story with song and music, with intricate puppets commanded by people standing behind a bamboo screen in waist deep water.  Definitely interesting to see once. 

The band at the water puppet show.

Intricate water puppets.