Cat Ba Island

Holiday View Hotel - Cat Ba Island
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I so much love Daniel this trip.  He was up at 6:00 a.m. to jump off the boat and go swimming.  He has such joy in his face and it is so much better than shopping in the hot streets of Hanoi.

We traveled to Monkey Island (too hot for a jungle trek to see the monkeys) and spend the afternoon swimming on the white sand beach.  We rented "shade" for 20,000 dong ($1.25 USD).

Our overnight accommodations as part of the tour were on the Island of Cat Ba.  We opted for a horrid dinner with the group at a western restaurant.  It is the first pizza that I have seen Scott refuse but where exactly did he think that pepperoni is made in Vietnam?

Cat Ba Island Map
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We tucked the kids in after dinner and went for Bia Hoi at a nearby street vender.  Mom, this is the best beer by far!  Much better than Tiger, Halida or Saigon beer.  The beer is brewed fresh each day and must be drunk within a few hours of brewing.  Do not be surprised if if I come home with a beer still.  Normally the beer is very cheep (1000 to 2000 dong per glass-US $0.12).  This place was a little more upscale (read clean) and sold for 5000 dong per glass.