Weather forecast: Blazing sunshine, very hot and humid. Temperatures from 26c / 79f to 36c / 97f but the real feel 40c / 104f

Today we are going on a cycle ride out into the countryside surrounding Hanoi. Wish us luck, not only with the weather, which forecasters are warning will be ‘excessive heat’ but before we get accross the Long Bien Bridge into the countryside we have to ride through the choas of Hanoi rush hour traffic!!

We survived our cycling trip. Riding in the Hanoi traffic was interesting but less scary than I imagined. The humidity and heat was challenging but we managed.

It was good to get out of Hanoi into the countryside. Saw lots of rice paddies and vegetables been grown in large fields. Lots of old ladies sitting by the sides of the road selling locally grown produce. The Vietnamese don’t appear to throw anything away. So you see lots of small shops repairing and making things we we in the West would throw away or go to a shop and buy new.

This evening at 7pm we are travelling to Halong Bay, a two hour drive. We are stopping overnight in a local hotel, ready to board Jade Sails Cruise luxury sailing boat for our day cruise round Halong Bay and Lan Hay Bay tomorrow.