25th February

 Out last full day of our trip. We curtailed the trip by 2 weeks because of a family issue.

Typically for this trip we didn't go out quietly. We hired a car and driver to take us from Hue to Da Nang airport but we didn't want to direct taxi ride. We had the driver stop off at various spots on the way and rather than take the highway we were driven over the Hai Van Pass. Amazing to think this was the main north south road.

East Vietnam Sea

Sea shell

Oyster farmers at Lap An Lagoon

Up into the clouds crossing the Hai Van Pass.

Some lorries still use the pass but it is a slow and dangerous journey.

The view from our flight from Da Nang to Hanoi. We had a 6 hour layover at Hanoi airport before our flight to Gatwick. Despite the thousands of miles travelled in South East Asia the journeys in the UK were the most difficult. Thanks to Miranda who picked us from the railway station.

24th February

 Today was our last day at Hue. We went in search of a chocolate shop to get some locally made chocolate but to no avail - despite hunting high and low it was nowhere to be found. However we did see a bit more of Hue including a local market.

Mrs Cody was keen to try an egg coffee so we found a good coffee shop to indulge her wishes. Actually it was pretty good.

And we indulged in croissants - the Vietnamese make the best French bakery goods outside France. Something to do with being a French colony for many years?