We took the overnight train ("Reunification Express") from Hanoi to Hué. This train connects the North of Vietnam to the South of Vietnam.
The monks are back!
Ha Long Bay ("where the dragon descends to the sea’ in the Gulf of Tonkin") is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, 4 hrs drive from Hanoi. We did a 5 hours cruise around the islands. 
Or Happy Next Year as some people say here! We arrived in Asia over two weeks ago. After spending some time in Phuket, we joined our group in Bangkok. We're having a great time so far. I am most impressed with the food. I am generally picky overseas but I haven't stopped eating since we arrived here. Not to mention all the beer the British and Australian people on our tour are getting me used to!
Today we went to a cooking class held in a local restaurant. We first went to the market to buy all of our ingredients (among other things very alive squids and shrimps). We then made spring rolls, squid salad (hmm not so good), fried rice (pronouced "flied lice" around here), and shrimp/cashew stir fry. It was great despite my 3 rd degree burn (ok, 1/2 degree burn) caused by the boiling oil.
Salut!
