Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (2016)

This little side trip to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay from our Bangkok adventure back in 2016 turned things around for me. We came with zero expectations, having only booked that flight because it was on sale, Frances wanted to make the most of her Asian vacation, and personally I had some extra savings (heard it wasn't too expensive in Vietnam) and terminal leaves. Without any detailed itinerary, the morning of our arrival we Googled then listed whatever we could feast our eyes and bellies on, opportunities to take in the history and culture of the towns we were visiting. And so, we explored for three full days...