VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

The structure of islands is basically limestone. There are altogether 1,969 islands in the bay, which could have been created through seismic activities in the past. Some islands are named whilst smaller ones are not. This image and the 9 following are of Halong Bay.
My wife having a good time doing a karaoke duet with a new found friend from England.
Do you see a pair of dangling feet?
Cat Ba Island is one of the bigger islands with hotels and resorts and where trekking and other activities can be undertaken.
A view of the serene environment from Amazing Cave.

VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

We visited the Amazing or Surprising Cave which was discovered by a Frenchman from whom the name was derived. The cave has 3 compartments opened to the public. A large portion is still closed.
A floating village near the cave. The residents here are Vietnamese sea gypsies, the same as those found in the Tongle Sap in Cambodia.
A sea gypsy on her way to do business, selling stuff from the boat.
One of the 5-star junks anchored near the cave.
The launching area for those joining their junks for cruises in the bay.

VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

The main street in Sapa. This image and the following capture the essence of Sapa from my 2-day visit there.
A lakeside scene with Dragon Mountain in the background.
Church of our Lady of the Rosary set up by French missionaries.
The town square.

VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

H'mong sellers - they have a separate section in the market to sell their wares.
Ah, our H'mong guide, sharing biscuits with her friends.
Sapa market, part of our walking tour itinerary.
Our guide buying food for her son.
That's our H'mong guide, Ah, who is 20 years old. Although she doesn't read and write, she can converse in good American-accented English and Vietnamese. She brought us on a walking tour of Sapa town with Cash, her 2-year old son, strapped to her back.

VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

A majestic-looking tree in a hotel courtyard.
Fan Xi Pan Street is one of several hilly ones in Sapa. Shop units fronting streets are mostly used for business purposes - hotels, restaurants, cafes, massage parlours or shops.
Fan Xi Pan Mountain - peak at 1,800 m - is the tallest in Sapa. A trek to scale it could take up to 3 days.
Shot taken from hotel window. Winter conditions - generally cloudy and cold.
Sapa Eden Hotel where we stayed. Room was huge with 2 electric heaters and an electric blanket. The hotel was the last "tall' building on Fan Xi Pan Street.

VIETNAM - THE SEQUEL

Suol Thuy Tien or Fairy Stream of Cat Cat (pronounced "Cut Cut") Village. It's approximately 950m from our hotel and the only village near enough for us to visit. We walked down to the village but returned by motor-cycle taxis as my wife couldn't walk anymore after the climb down.
H'mong performance, one of the features of a visit to the village.
Tien Sa Waterfall, albeit a miniature one, is another attraction.
A H'mong house converted into an art gallery.
After walking 950m to the checking station, my wife is preparing to undertake the climb down some 650m to the village. It was indeed a daunting task for her.