- 4 days ago
VIETNAM | Solo Backpacking | Ep3: Tam Coc, Hanoi, Ha Giang + Phu Quoc
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00:00I'm currently spending six weeks solo backpacking through Vietnam.
00:07The scenery here is just breathtaking.
00:11Starting in Saigon, I'm travelling via bus, train, boat, plane and bike, finishing up at Ha Giang in the very north.
00:19Alright, Happy New Year from Vietnam.
00:23Happy New Year!
00:24This is New Year's Day in Hanoi.
00:27Just sit around and get beers for 7k, which is 23p.
00:35Top tip for doing Trang Ang is stretch beforehand.
00:44I'm getting a bus today up to Ha Giang to do the Ha Giang Loop and this is the thing that everyone raves about.
00:52This is the most beautiful robe I've ever driven on a record.
00:57My trip began nearly four weeks ago in Saigon and I worked my way through the central highlands and up the coast to Hoi An.
01:15You can't help immediately falling in love with this place. Cheers!
01:18Cheers!
01:19I had a few days in Hoi An to enjoy everything that's on offer around there.
01:23Then, I explored some of the historical sites around Hoi before travelling up to Phong Nha.
01:28Today has been a really, really fun day. One of the best days of the trip so far.
01:32I definitely wish I could have spent longer there, but it was time to move on and get the night bus to my next destination.
01:39I'm trying to avoid these because the only option is the night bus to have Gok and Nimbin.
01:44So, it's 9 o'clock now. I think we're going to get there at 4pm.
01:48So, the night bus is going to sell.
01:50The night bus is going to sell.
01:51The night bus is going to sell.
01:52The night bus is going to sell.
01:53The night bus is going to sell.
01:54The night bus is going to sell.
01:55The night bus is going to sell.
01:56The night bus is going to sell.
01:57The night bus is going to sell.
01:58The night bus is going to sell.
01:59The night bus is going to sell.
02:00The night bus is going to sell.
02:01The night bus is going to sell.
02:02The night bus is going to sell.
02:03The night bus is going to sell.
02:04The night bus is going to sell.
02:05The night bus is going to sell.
02:06The night bus is going to sell.
02:07The night bus is going to sell.
02:08The night bus is going to sell.
02:09The night bus is going to sell.
02:10The night bus is going to sell.
02:11The night bus is going to sell.
02:12so it's now 7 a.m. I can't check in until 2 p.m. because I fully booked last night
02:22now I've just set up camp at the pool it's really pretty here though like just through the clouds
02:30you can start seeing the peaks come through but yeah this is me for the next few hours
02:42in the next two days I really want to make the most of my time here because I lost out
02:49on some time at Fongna from being a bit burnt out so Nimbin I really want to see as much
02:55as possible and this is one of the places that have been most important on the trip actually
02:58when I saw pictures of it I was like I can't wait to get there so yeah let's get stuck in
03:12later that day after I checked in I hired out some bikes with the friends I made in
03:19my door and we went for a little explore around
03:22all right we just come a little cycle around thinking wouldn't it be great if we brought
03:32some beers and then this lady comes up on the boat saying do you want some beers if she read
03:37it on mine bye bye thank you bye bye cheers guys cheers what's the chant here's to me here's
03:46to you here's to yes we fucking do what's that from there's just a ton of them that sounds
03:53like a sorority girl kind of thing I'm not going to lie it does that sounds such like a sorority
03:57girl thing that's what we did at VBH that was the chant all right okay yeah here's to life
04:03here's to life there we go sweet and simple
04:07it's like my first beer in three days I feel so proud it's the thing I love about Southeast Asia
04:26as I keep saying you can get beer everywhere temples tombs you can sit down by the road
04:31if someone will bring you beer and look what we have come on come on sing guys sing
04:38guys come on yeah yeah dip chai dip chai dips dip guy dip chai can't say handsome guy she's
04:51all right Phil he's very wise she's very wise
04:53this is very wise
04:54it's very wise
04:57I'm heading back to the hostel now, but I had an awesome evening, just rode to a random
05:26spot, and a kind lady showed up on the boat with beers, and we just hung out and chill.
05:32It's a fun little random adventure before tomorrow we start doing proper stuff around here.
05:37The first is proper stuff. You know what I mean. Check this out.
05:47Don't drink and ride, kids.
05:50Back at the hostel, we just had a chilled evening of hanging out, so that we were fresh and ready to explore the next day.
06:00Alright, good morning from Tam Kok. Today, sign up for this little guided bike tour to the Van Long village.
06:08The girls I met yesterday that stayed in my room and some guys from the UK come along as well, so it should be good fun.
06:14Let's explore a different part of the area that I wasn't planning on going to, but it should be good.
06:20We got a good group together actually, so it shows how easily you can, you know, arrive at a place not knowing anyone,
06:25and within a couple of hours you've got a whole group of friends to spend the day with.
06:29Are you ready, Rebecca? I'm ready to go!
06:32Good, good, good, good, good, good, good.
06:35Cool.
06:39Alright, so we started the bike tour. We're driving nice and slow.
06:44We're nearly reaching 20 kilometers an hour. Let's see how fast we're going.
06:51Oh, that's beautiful anyway.
06:53Okay, we just stopped for a quick viewpoint. The scenery here is unbelievable.
07:06Is the guide leading us? Say hello.
07:10The scenery here is just breathtaking. I mean, you have plenty of time to take it in
07:14because we're driving at the top speed of 20 kilometers an hour.
07:17How's the adrenaline after riding so fast?
07:19Woo!
07:20Here we are!
07:2120k per hour.
07:22Honestly, Paul Walker ain't got nothing on me.
07:25Rest in peace.
07:26Rest in peace.
07:27Rest in peace.
07:29Enjoying it, guys.
07:30It's the best thing ever, honestly.
07:37We're making jokes about driving slow, but we're just having a laugh.
07:40I'm so glad I've done this.
07:42It's such a beautiful bit of countryside to be driving through.
07:49First injury of the day.
07:51It fell off.
07:52It fell off.
07:53It fell off.
07:54I mean, but like, I wasn't driving. I was just like...
07:58Clearly.
07:59Okay.
08:00You know.
08:01We can see rice feral facing like this, like this one.
08:05Post crash.
08:06Post crash.
08:07Some monkeys along the world.
08:08There's monkeys.
08:09If this one is a weather changing, monkey appearing.
08:12Is that really rare monkey in Vietnam?
08:14Yeah.
08:15Oh, yeah.
08:16Because people hunt so much.
08:17They're like black ones.
08:18What's it called?
08:19All the black ones they call is...
08:20They live in a...
08:21They live in a...
08:22Django.
08:23Can we see that?
08:24It's black like this.
08:25It's rare, mate.
08:30Well, look what we're driving through.
08:32Are they fishing or...?
08:43Yeah.
08:44Just small fish.
08:45River fish.
08:46What is it?
08:47It's very bad because it's like a battery and have electricity on it.
08:52What?
08:53I told you.
08:54A lot of small and maybe fish kill.
08:56Very sad.
08:57What keeps happening to your bike, mate?
08:59Bike's fucking shite, mate.
09:01Keep stalling because you're going so slow.
09:03Mate, I'm stalling because I'm going so fast.
09:13Yeah, we're on the main road now.
09:15In the North Vietnam, there are four seasons.
09:27The weather changes fairly quickly and very cold in the winter.
09:31So, people here, they just have twice a year for the rice crop.
09:37The first one is from now, like January until May.
09:43The second crop is from June to September.
09:47The villages here, you see, the farm is huge.
09:51So, it's a lot of work.
09:53I mean, hard work for farmers.
09:56But, it's community.
09:58Today, I'll help you.
10:00Tomorrow, you'll help me.
10:02So, some families help each other.
10:05So, it'll be easier for farmers from many generations to generations.
10:10Okay?
10:11Yeah.
10:12So, yeah.
10:13Cool.
10:14I talk too much.
10:15No, no, no, no.
10:16Okay.
10:17No, no.
10:31We've parked up the bikes and we're now going to go on an hour-long boat trip through the
10:36limestone peaks here.
10:37So, this should be pretty cool, pretty chilled out.
10:39I'll come back now, you hear?
10:41Woo!
10:42Hello.
10:43Hello.
10:44Hello.
10:45Hello.
10:46So, we're just on our relaxing boat ride for the afternoon.
11:07We're about to go to the cave and we've been warned to duck down and not smack our heads.
11:14So, hopefully, this won't end in injury.
11:17It's like, hey, we're on holiday.
11:18I think we're rotating right now.
11:19Oh, we're going in there.
11:20Yes.
11:21Oh.
11:22Isn't it scary?
11:23Yeah, duck and the snake.
11:24All right, just finished up the boat ride.
11:25Nice.
11:26Nice.
11:27Nice.
11:28Nice.
11:29Nice.
11:30Nice.
11:31Nice.
11:32Nice.
11:33Nice.
11:34Nice.
11:35Nice.
11:36Nice.
11:37Nice.
11:38Nice.
11:39Nice.
11:40Nice.
11:41Nice.
11:42Nice.
11:43Nice.
11:44Nice.
11:45Nice.
11:46Got the boat ride.
11:47Nice little peaceful ride around for about an hour.
11:49We're just going to hopefully take a quick route back to town.
11:51Ah, it's been a good lap.
11:52Been a good lap.
11:53Well, that was an interesting experience.
12:08Glad I did it.
12:09This is behind the scenes.
12:10Hello.
12:11Hello.
12:12Hello.
12:13How did you find the bike ride?
12:14No, keep talking.
12:15No, you keep talking to me.
12:16You talk to me.
12:17How did you find the bike ride?
12:18No, this is like Inception.
12:19You can't do that.
12:20That's your...
12:21That's your...
12:22This is my...
12:23This is what happens when...
12:24You do stuff.
12:25You do bad things.
12:27We're going to have some food now and get some duck.
12:29Do you know how many?
12:30There's three additional.
12:31We were all starving after our long day of riding, so having some freshly roasted duck really hit the spot.
12:46Eat with your hands.
12:48I recommend duck by hand.
12:50Yeah?
12:51Duck by hand.
12:52Oh, eat it by hand.
12:53This is Vietnamese duck by hand.
12:54Yeah.
12:55Yeah.
12:56And that's what I do.
12:57And after this, we went back to the hostel for some drinks.
13:06Cups.
13:07Cups.
13:08Cups.
13:09Cups.
13:10Cups.
13:11Cups.
13:12Cups.
13:13Cups.
13:14Cups.
13:15Cups.
13:17So good, bud.
13:18Cups.
13:19Carr, you're getting four drinks.
13:20Rod.
13:21You're getting four drinks.
13:22And Connor, you're getting four drinks.
13:24Cheers.
13:25It looks like you're checking the whole thing then, bud.
13:27So, we had drinks at the hostel, but now for the after party, we have a bus for a bar.
13:34It's not a bus that moves.
13:35It's a party bus, but it's a stay still, and you drink upstairs, so let's go check it
13:40out.
13:41Yeah.
13:42Yeah, turns out the bus bar wasn't that great so after one drink we called it a
13:47night all right good morning from Tan Kok it's my final day here before I head
13:54to Hanoi so I've just filled up with a nice breakfast burger before I hire out
13:59a bike and I'm gonna go explore around by myself and the first thing I'm gonna
14:02go to is like the main event highlight for this region which is the Trangang
14:06boat tour got my ticket and leaflet 250,000 so that's what like $10 I think
14:15it's a three-hour boats or three hours there's a bit like a theme park this
14:18entrance okay so there's three different routes to choose from you get there you
14:27get to the front of the queue and they're like do you want to go route one two or
14:29three I'm like I don't know so they're all about the same amount of time so I
14:34just went for route one
14:44the Trangang Scenic Landscape Complex not only has a catchy name there's also a
14:50UNESCO World Heritage Site this area is often referred to as how long bay on land
14:55and the boat tour today will take us through different caves to reveal
14:59beautiful scenes as the river weaves between the jungle cupboard limestone
15:03mountains
15:17so we made a first quick stop off at the Trin Temple which is a place of worshiping two generals from the
15:23Din Dynasty but they got these amazing fish statues here and then we also got like a heron standing on top of a turtle
15:32it's pretty cool
15:48approaching our first cave I need to duck
15:51this is so cool
15:56I'm genuinely terrified I'm gonna smack my head
16:00oh drop the camera
16:04it's like a crazy obstacle course
16:16she's doing an amazing job to roll around here without no sitting on her head
16:24open up a bit here
16:26it's so amazing just weaving through them and how she can just roll you like so accurately
16:38shooting without you smacking your head I mean you have to duck but it does feel a bit like a theme park ride
16:42feels like the start of Pirates of the Caribbean and kept expecting to hear like dead men tell no tales
16:50if we made it out of the cave and just come through this peaceful lagoon
16:54we got another one coming up like each cave you go through brings you through it's like another
17:03lagoon and you still come out and just see it it's like oh
17:08it's uh oh my this is so good this is so so good wow
17:20oh
17:33oh
17:34oh
17:35oh
17:39oh
17:41oh
17:43This place is unreal.
18:13So we've stopped at what appears to be like a cafe restaurant. Basically going
18:18through those caves is amazing but having to sort of lean down in really
18:22awkward weird positions it's like we're back to killing. Like top tip for doing
18:27Trangang is stretched beforehand. So there's a temple here it's not just a cafe.
18:35Basically climbed all the way up and all the way down the other side. There's a temple through here.
18:40It's a cool walk. A really awesome path just twisted up and down the limestone rock.
18:47A Trangang boat experience is one of the best things if not the best thing I've done in Vietnam so far.
18:58You know when you go to a place and you hope it's gonna be good but you're worried it might not meet
19:03your expectations like this has met them and exceeded them. There's a simplicity to it just like drifting
19:09along slowly through such an incredible landscape. I just I loved it. I just loved it. It's just pure nature you know.
19:16There's nothing complicated about it. You're just admiring nature. I loved it.
19:24Now I'm at the Heimwald something. This is the famous viewpoint anyway. Of course no attraction would be
19:30complete without its own instant atmosphere.
19:36Climb up begins. Not even halfway up. The views are already getting incredible.
19:49They got this heart shaped thing down here. Although when you have the path behind it, it kind of looks like a giant sperm.
19:55That's where we had the beers for the first night. That little corner there.
20:02First night, that little corner there.
20:23Mate, it's up.
20:28Pretty high up.
20:29So, Hoi An has been my favourite town so far, but in terms of landscape, this has been my favourite place. It's just been outstanding.
20:54However, it is time to move on now.
20:58But what I have had to do actually is rearrange the order of what I'm going to be doing things in because
21:03Tet Luna is coming up, which is the Vietnamese New Year.
21:06And what happens for a few days around Vietnamese New Year is just everything shuts down.
21:12Everyone just sort of goes back to see their families, like heads from the cities out to the rural areas.
21:16And so, I was planning to go like from here to Cat Bar Island to see Hallon Bay.
21:22But the boats to Cat Bar Island aren't going to be running during this few day period.
21:26So, I'm going to have to do Cat Bar Island at the end.
21:29And so, yeah, you're chatting to everyone at the hostel and everyone's having to sort of rearrange their plans.
21:33Because suddenly it's like, oh God, everything's going to shut down. We're not going to be able to get to the places we want to.
21:38But, you know, it's the way it goes. It should still be, I'm still going to get to see everything I want to see.
21:41I'm still going to do everything that I want to do, which is going to be in a slightly different order.
21:45So, it's, you know, it's not a problem. Well, hopefully it's not.
21:48So, this morning, I'm heading to Hanoi.
21:52And for breakfast, I've got the standard Southeast Asia travel snack of a pack of Oreos.
21:58It was just a two-hour drive to Hanoi, which breezed past in this comfy limo van.
22:05So, we're arriving in Hanoi. Film it properly in a bit.
22:09First thing I want to do is try and find a new tablet.
22:12Now, a little bit of behind the scenes of filming this trip.
22:16So, first of all, my gimbal stopped working.
22:21And then, my action camera, DJI Osmo Action, stopped working.
22:26And now, my main camera, my Sony A7S, has stopped working.
22:31This, I've had for five years now, and it has been through the works.
22:34And I've had to repair it a couple of times to spend quite a bit of money on that.
22:40When this broke yesterday, I was like, right, I'll just get to Hanoi.
22:43And, you know, buy a new one.
22:46And I'll just stick it on the credit card.
22:48You know, I was hoping it would last me another year.
22:50There's a Sony shop in town.
22:52I had to go spend $2,000 on a credit card.
22:56And I go to the Sony shop and they don't have the A7S.
23:01But they had other sort of mid-range cameras there and stuff, blocking cameras and home video cameras.
23:06So, I was like, right, I'll go away and research them and then come back tomorrow and sort of figure out the best thing I can get just to sort of use for the rest of the trip.
23:15But then they said, oh, no, we're closing in one hour and we'll be closed for five days because of the Tet Luna, the New Year celebrations.
23:23So, I basically had less than an hour to pick a camera to use for the rest of my trip because I've still got two weeks to go.
23:32So, I've come to a McDonald's to get on the Wi-Fi and I just, I took pictures of the cameras and I'm going to Google what's the most suitable one for what I need.
23:42And then they're fucking up.
23:45Urgh.
23:46It's always a film in your travels.
23:48Whilst they had some good sort of mid-range vlogging cameras, I didn't have enough time to properly research their pros and cons.
23:54And I wasn't going to have enough time to get the accessories for them like a tripod or external mic.
24:02So, I was like, well, what am I going to do?
24:04So, then I decided to just keep it simple and go with what I know and get a Sony Handycam.
24:08So, this is pretty much the same thing that I filmed all of HK2MY on.
24:13So, that's what I'm going to be using for the rest of my trip.
24:16And, you know, Hanoi and Hanoi Bay is the bits of Vietnam I saw on the HK2MY trip.
24:23And so, you know, I was hoping to play on the nostalgia a little bit, but not go so far as I have to use, you know, the same bloody camera.
24:30So, I guess for all you budding filmmakers out there, this would be a nice little lesson on,
24:34it's not the quality of the camera you use, it's your ability to tell a story.
24:38So, switch into the Sony Handycam now.
24:42Alright, so we're now on a Sony Handycam. Let's see how this works out.
24:46Anyway, I have just checked into my hostel. I'm at the Central Backpackers Hostel.
24:51Yeah, this is me for the next three or possibly four nights, because I've just found out that the buses to Ha Giang aren't running on the day I want to leave.
24:58So, I might have to stay here an extra day, which then affects my plans for after the Ha Giang loop.
25:03So, you know, it's sort of cool to be here for Tet Luna, but it's kind of messing up all my plans for the trip.
25:08But, you know, that's the way it goes sometimes, just kind of work with it and improvise.
25:14And so, we'll see where this trip ends up.
25:17Anyway, I kind of fancied a beer after all of that, and it was New Year's Eve, so I met up with Emmanuel, who was also in town, and we went to get some of the legendary Beer Ahoy.
25:30Cheers, boys. Cheers, mate. Oh, yeah. Cheers, guys. Beer Ahoy. Well, we've come to Beer Ahoy Junction.
25:40If you've got that noise, it's the best thing ever.
25:41They've got these little stools, you just sit around and get beers for 7k, which is, hang on, it's 30 cents or 23p.
26:04It's not bad, like, it's decent.
26:08I think it's actually pretty good, even though it's home-fruited, it's kind of sketchy, you don't really know what's going on with it.
26:12I think it's something, you don't know what the strength is either, so sometimes it sucks, yeah?
26:16It's better than my beer right now at my last hostel.
26:18Yeah, the Free Beer Hostel's just, like, watered down shit.
26:20You work at a distillery. I do.
26:22So, how would you rate it?
26:24Well, I'll drink it.
26:28That's all that matters.
26:30Cheers, Shirley!
26:34Health and safety example of Vietnam.
26:37We have a giant umbrella above us, because it's raining, and right next to it is all of the wires powering everything.
26:47Safety first!
26:49You look worried, Emmanuel.
26:51Clearly I'm not.
26:53I'm away from any kind of...
26:55Getting a bit hungry, so we can get some fried food.
27:01That's how easy Asia is.
27:03Cheap beer, fried food, done.
27:05It's good.
27:07It's good.
27:08It's good.
27:09It's good.
27:12When you're drinking at these beer hoi places, then you need the toilet.
27:16They just send you down this sort of dark alleyway.
27:19So it's like a drain pipe, or a squatter toilet, and it smells like...
27:27Yeah!
27:28The most friendly guy in town.
27:33That was better.
27:35You can pay good money for a worse pint than this in London.
27:39Decent enough beer.
27:41Fried food right there.
27:42Good people.
27:43Good times.
27:44Awful toilets, but you know.
27:46It's not all going to be perfect.
27:48You've got to put up the toilets, but you know.
27:54Okay, so I wanted to show how much the round cost for everyone.
27:57But Blake's just treated everyone.
27:59Six beers each out of six of us.
28:01Yep.
28:02So that's 36.
28:0336 beers is what it was.
28:0436 beers.
28:05How much did it cost you?
28:06168.
28:07That's like $10.
28:08So, yeah, it's like $10.
28:09$10 to buy 36 beers.
28:11Thank you, Blake!
28:12Which is amazing, because it's so cheap.
28:15But this motherfucker's going to want to drink back when we're at a proper bar later.
28:19He's playing the long game.
28:20He's playing the long game.
28:21He's like, oh, can I get a glass of champagne?
28:24I'll take gin and tonics.
28:25I'm on to you, Blake.
28:26I'm on to you.
28:27What has happened?
28:28Yeah, this one, Blake.
28:29It's fucking crazy.
28:30Where's the other stuff?
28:31Oh, this looks like Blade Runner shit.
28:32It's really cool.
28:33Yeah.
28:34So this is what a tropical storm's like.
28:35We were sitting here chatting, and it wasn't like it started raining harder and harder.
28:37It's like someone turned the taps on, and then, like in the space of like a second,
28:41turned it into this.
28:42You're not working.
28:43No one is so bad.
28:44You're not perfect.
28:45Yeah!
28:46You're got perfect.
28:47Yeah.
28:48Yeah!
28:50Yeah!
28:51Yeah!
28:52Yeah!
28:53Yeah!
28:54Yeah!
28:55Yeah!
28:56Yeah!
28:57Cool.
28:58Cool.
28:59Yeah.
29:00Yeah!
29:01Cool.
29:02Cool.
29:03Cool.
29:04Yeah!
29:05Cool.
29:06Cool.
29:07Cool.
29:08Cool.
29:09Cool.
29:10Cool.
29:11The thing you should look at is behind you.
29:18Watch after the wires.
29:20Hey, hey, it's raining. Can you give me a beer?
29:22Yeah.
29:23Perfect time to change the light bulb.
29:29Oh yeah, the wind just changed direction.
29:31We got it all.
29:32Oh!
29:37Oh, damn.
29:41Oh, that's the voice. I know this guy.
29:58Once the rain died down a bit, we decided to get some food.
30:02When I come to Hanoi, I don't just drink beer Hanoi, I drink beer Hanoi bold.
30:08Then, after this, we tried to find a bar to see in the New Years.
30:14The Vietnam Backpackers Hostel was rammed, so we decided to check out the bar at my hostel.
30:19There's this bar crawling through. I don't like it.
30:23The atmosphere was way better here,
30:25plus they were playing some banging tunes to get the party going.
30:28The only problem was the balcony was packed,
30:40so we quickly tried to go somewhere else for a view of the midnight fireworks,
30:44which resulted in a complete fail.
30:46We were at the rooftop bar of our hostel,
30:49and it was so crowded.
30:51Shit.
30:52What's happening now?
30:53Five, four, three, two, one.
31:03Oh, fuck.
31:04Alright.
31:05Happy New Year from Vietnam.
31:06This is...
31:07...
31:09...
31:10...
31:11...
31:12...
31:13...
31:14...
31:15...
31:16...
31:17...
31:18...
31:19...
31:20...
31:21...
31:22...
31:23...
31:37...
31:38...
31:39...
31:40...
31:41...
31:59...
32:00...
32:01...
32:02...
32:03...
32:04...
32:05...
32:06...
32:07the streets of the old quarter where I'm staying,
32:09are named after their original businesses,
32:11dating back about 1,000 years.
32:16So I'm at the railway street,
32:18the famous Instagram spot.
32:20There's actually tons of different cafes and stuff along the railway here,
32:24so it'd be a cool place to hang out.
32:26I'll just get a picture.
32:30Like any place, if you want a photo of it,
32:32just walk a little bit further away from the crowds.
32:34There's no one else there.
32:38The next place I checked out was the Ha Lo Prison,
32:41which was one of the few things actually open in town.
32:44So the prison was created by the French at the end of the 19th century
32:49and then also was used again by them in the 1940s, 1950s,
32:54when they were trying to take back Vietnam,
32:56because it was a French colony.
32:58But then it was also used by the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War
33:02and it became known as the Hanoi Hilton to the Americans.
33:05And John McCain was held prisoner here for quite a few years.
33:14Just heading to check out St. Joseph Cathedral,
33:16you can hear some beautiful singing coming from inside.
33:18I spent another couple of hours wandering around the old quarter,
33:32including going past the hostel I stayed at seven years ago.
33:35Then the next day I was joined by Emmanuel
33:38and we went a bit further afield in town.
33:40We have here a wall of the illustrations for the law of karma,
33:54different causes and effects.
33:56So there's stuff like using social media to remind people to live a moral life
34:02brings long-lasting happiness and love for others.
34:04So very hashtag blessed.
34:06Being an alcoholic and drug user brings a dumb and foolish man.
34:10You listening, James?
34:12So when you come here and see the lake,
34:14you get a sense of the scale of Hanoi.
34:17Because as a backpacker, you may just see the downtown area
34:20with all the narrow and small streets and the hectic craziness,
34:23but it's a huge city out there.
34:31All right, so today I'm finally, finally leaving Hanoi.
34:34Been stuck here a bit longer than I wanted to because of Tet Luna
34:37and, you know, the word stuck might sound a bit negative,
34:41because it's like, hey, you're in a foreign city,
34:43you're not stuck there, go out and explore.
34:45But everything's shut. Everything's been shut.
34:47I'm getting a bus today up to Ha Giang to do the Ha Giang Loop.
34:51And this is the thing that my entire trip to Vietnam,
34:53the one thing everyone's been saying is like,
34:55oh, you're going to do the Ha Giang Loop.
34:57You must do the Ha Giang Loop.
34:58So that's what I'm going to go do now.
35:00But I have decided to change my plans again
35:02because the weather's just been terrible here
35:05and apparently even worse out on Ha Long Bay.
35:07And since I have to fly home from Ho Chi Minh City anyway,
35:10because I've got a return ticket from there,
35:12what I'm going to do is do the Ha Giang Loop
35:14and then fly down to Fu Kok Island
35:17and spend my last few days of my trip there.
35:19It'd be nice to see some sunshine again
35:21before I go back to miserable rainy England in February.
35:24So it should be a nice fun way to finish off the trip.
35:27Go to the Ha Giang Loop, which is supposed to be amazing,
35:29and then go chill in the sunshine down on Fu Kok Island.
35:32The hostel organized taxis to take everyone out to the bus station.
35:42Now, I've been feeling a little bit under the weather the last couple of days.
35:46Nothing major, but since the bus journeys have been really comfy so far on this trip,
35:50I was looking forward to having a day of just resting, watching movies,
35:53and getting my energy back.
35:55However, once I got on the bus,
35:57I found I'd been given the short straw in terms of seating.
36:00So this is like already the worst journey I've been on.
36:03I can sleep at bus, but we've got five bus crumbling in the back.
36:06It's gone so slow.
36:08So what followed was an exhausting journey
36:10that took a lot longer than a scheduled seven hours to get up to Ha Giang.
36:14Alright, so arrived in Ha Giang last night
36:16after a terrible, terrible bus journey.
36:18That was the worst bus journey I've done on this trip by a long, long way.
36:21Yeah, here did the Ha Giang Loop.
36:23Ha Giang is Vietnam's northernmost province bordering China,
36:26and the Loop is a motorbiking route around the region's breathtaking mountain roads.
36:31And there's tons of different ways you can do it.
36:33I mean, obviously it's just a road, you can drive it yourself,
36:35but everyone's been recommending to me the Jasmine Hostel right here,
36:39because you can ride in a group, and you have like a guide, you can navigate.
36:42You're going to sort out your bike, your pads, gloves, helmet, everything,
36:47all in one easy price, and that's what I'm going to do.
36:50This guy, Sơn, behind this bike has a very big flap, so just follow him, okay?
36:56Whilst there might be the less adventurous way to do it,
36:59considering where I am on the trip, that's how I'm feeling,
37:02I'm still a bit under the weather, keep burning myself out on this trip.
37:06Yeah, I'm going to do it with a group,
37:08because it means I can just relax, enjoy the journey, enjoy the scenery,
37:12and also concentrate on the filming rather than trying to ride, navigate, and film.
37:16And hopefully have a good group together, a good life for jet experience.
37:24All right, all kitted out, pads on, helmet on, we've had the safety briefing.
37:28That's our guide, Ha Jiang, let's go.
37:31We're on our way to try to get out of Ha Jiang, lose the traffic, get up in the mountains.
37:40All right, this is what we've been driving through.
37:57We've got about 95 kilometers to drive today before we reach the village that we're staying in tonight.
38:07I just stopped off at a little coffee spot. It's getting colder.
38:11We're getting higher up, so it's getting a lot, lot colder.
38:13But the views are just getting better and better and better.
38:15See why people said it's a lot of fun? Because it is.
38:18So the coffee shop's blasting out the 90's classic.
38:24We've got Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears playing.
38:26Perfect soundtrack to the Ha Jiang loop.
38:28Were you even alive when a song came out?
38:32Were you even alive when a song came out?
38:34I think she wasn't.
38:36It probably wasn't.
38:3819th birthday today.
38:40I guess this is what we're going to be riding through the next few days.
38:44Just heading through that way as we loop it back around.
38:47So we just stopped up in this little village for lunch.
39:05Because we were all pre-paid with the tour.
39:07You get this banquet set out for you.
39:09Pretty nice.
39:11Colin, benefits of the easy rider.
39:15So we've just stopped off in this little village.
39:39Excited year.
39:41We've just driven through the most insanely beautiful pass.
39:45My helmet's still not working so as long as I don't crash I'll be fine.
39:51I think we're going to go check out a cave now.
39:56Oh yeah.
39:57Yeah.
39:58Yeah.
40:02That was a feral hike up.
40:03Wow.
40:04Ridiculous scene.
40:05I've narrowed this awesome little cave.
40:06The camera is steaming up in here.
40:07It's so hot.
40:08Oh.
40:09It's like a freaking sauna in there.
40:10Beautiful but so hot.
40:11Especially around all the layers for a bike.
40:12I can't get over how just epic the landscapes are around here.
40:13It's unreal.
40:14It's like a freaking sauna in there.
40:15Beautiful but so hot.
40:16Especially around all the layers for a bike.
40:17I can't get over how just epic the landscapes are around here.
40:18It's unreal.
40:19I can't get over how just epic the landscapes are around here.
40:20It's unreal.
40:21It's like a freaking sauna in there.
40:22Beautiful but so hot.
40:23Especially around all the layers for a bike.
40:24I can't get over how just epic the landscapes are around here.
40:25It's unreal.
40:26I can't get over how just epic the landscapes are around here.
40:28It's unreal.
40:49This is the most beautiful road I've ever driven on I reckon.
40:56Certainly the most beautiful road I've ever biked on.
40:59The scale of it is just insane.
41:02So we started out down there.
41:04We're on this pass all the way up here.
41:07Gonna keep going up over there.
41:10Over the top down the other side.
41:12I'm lucky because Travis here has sorted me out with his GoPro footage since mine's broken.
41:17Okay everyone!
41:19Go!
41:32So now the other side of the valley.
41:33The only question everyone's asking is though,
41:35despite the views being amazing,
41:37the only question everyone's asking is,
41:38is there going to be a hot shower tonight?
41:40I don't think there will be.
41:41We're home staying.
41:47Alright, day one complete.
41:53Made it to the homestay.
41:54Let's see what the combination's like for the night.
41:57But yeah, the room's nice and cosy.
42:01We're all kind of sleeping together in this one giant dorm.
42:04Whereas a couple of dorms.
42:05And there's gonna be food, campfire.
42:08You got beers if you want it, but I'm staying off it tonight.
42:10So I'm gonna have a pretty chill night at the homestay here tonight.
42:13See if I can get myself a bit better.
42:14Feeling a bit better for tomorrow.
42:20So in a couple of days leading up to the Ha Giang Loop,
42:22I've been feeling a bit under the weather.
42:25Just a bit worn out.
42:26So basically what had happened was,
42:27I kind of given myself mild tonsillitis.
42:30And of course the main thing you need to do to get over tonsillitis is just rest.
42:37But I started the loop thinking,
42:38I'll be alright once I'm on the road.
42:40I'll be feeling better and enjoying myself.
42:41But, you know, those roads are tiring to drive on.
42:45Because you're winding up through the mountains.
42:47And there's trucks, there's traffic and stuff.
42:49I was just feeling terrible.
42:50I was feeling exhausted.
42:51And like, you know, my mouth was hurting from the tonsillitis.
42:55So it hurt to eat, it hurt to talk.
42:56And I just wasn't enjoying it.
42:58So in the morning I had a choice.
43:01It's like I can keep going with the loop,
43:03but only kind of half-assed enjoying it.
43:05In fact, not really enjoying it because I'm feeling ill
43:07and not being able to socialise.
43:09And then because I keep going,
43:11it means I won't actually get better.
43:12I won't be able to rest up.
43:14And that means I'll go to Fu Kok and then just be ill for that.
43:16So I'll just waste the last two weeks of my trip.
43:19And because I'd already booked it up,
43:21I had a choice between being ill for the Ha Giang
43:23and being ill for Fu Kok.
43:25Or quitting Ha Giang, getting better,
43:27and then going to Fu Kok and enjoying that.
43:29So I came to the decision and said,
43:31right, I'm going to quit doing the loop.
43:34I'm going to get out of this and go and rest up.
43:42So from where we were the first night,
43:44I got a bus back to Ha Giang.
43:46So they're somehow going to get our bikes up on there.
43:50I think I've been breaking my own rules on this trip.
43:51I think I've been, you know,
43:52since my first backpacking trip in like a year and a half,
43:53I've really wanted to sort of try to see and do as much as possible.
43:55and it's just been go, go, go, go, go, go.
43:57So I've been ignoring my own rules.
43:58I think that's the first backpacking trip in like a year and a half.
44:02I've really wanted to sort of try to see and do as much as possible.
44:07And it's just been go, go, go, go, go.
44:10So I've been ignoring my own rules.
44:12I think that's just what's burnt me out.
44:13And it's almost caught up to me.
44:15And I'm getting older.
44:16I can't hack it as easy as I used to.
44:36On that first day once we started driving,
44:38and I just saw off just how epic the mountains were,
44:42I was like, I want to be able to actually properly enjoy this
44:46and properly experience the loop.
44:48Like not just enjoy the drive,
44:50but enjoy the social scene and enjoy the entire experience.
44:53And I can only do it half-assed now because I'm not that well.
44:58So I came to the decision.
44:59I'm basically going to quest for Everest it.
45:01Going to do what we did on the quest for Everest trip,
45:03where Chris got ill.
45:04So we had to leave the tour.
45:07And then came back and did the Everest base camp trek a year and a half later.
45:11So I'm going to come back in a year's time,
45:14but in like April, May time,
45:16when it's sunny and warm.
45:17All the views will be there.
45:19It won't be covered in fog and cloud and rain.
45:21And, you know, maybe I'll make like a two-week Northern Vietnam trip out of it.
45:27And, you know, some of the people in the group going,
45:29Oh, it's so sad that you're going to miss out on this.
45:31You're going to, it's so sad you've got to leave.
45:33And I was like, it's fine.
45:34You know, I'm very, very fortunate that I get to travel a lot.
45:39And not every trip's going to go to plan.
45:42You know.
45:43They were good to me as well.
45:45Actually, the guys at Jasmine Hostel,
45:46I sort of got back there and told them what happened.
45:49And they refunded half the trip, which I didn't expect at all.
45:52I was just like, oh, that money's gone.
45:54It's a write-off.
45:55But yeah, it sounded really good of them.
45:57Got to Ha Giang.
46:00I just had two nights there.
46:01And I literally just did nothing.
46:03I just sat and watched movies in this private room.
46:06And I got the bus down to Hanoi Airport today.
46:09And I'm in this hotel room.
46:11And I've just been doing nothing.
46:12Just relaxing.
46:13And it's worked.
46:14I'm nearly better.
46:15I'm nearly back to 100%, you know.
46:18The hotel had great reviews on Bookie.com.
46:20But I got to the room and this is sort of the book of all the things to do.
46:25Like, you know, your restaurant menu and everything.
46:28It's empty.
46:29So I went down to reception.
46:31I was like, um, yeah.
46:34Have you got another copy of this?
46:36Because mine's empty.
46:37And he went, oh, no, no.
46:38We're so new.
46:39We haven't actually printed out all the information yet.
46:41Basically for this evening, I just went to the shop and got myself a pot noodle.
46:47Tomorrow, I'll find a food cock and just talk about this sort of holiday.
46:51At the end of my holiday, they'll be partying.
46:53They'll be relaxing.
46:54They'll be beautiful beaches.
46:56And it'll be a different end to the trip than what I planned.
47:00But it sort of turned out to be the right end to the trip for what I want and how I'm feeling
47:05right now.
47:06I gave myself a couple of nights to get settled on the island, during which time I made friends with a group of Croatians at the hostel.
47:11And we hired out some bikes to go explore the island.
47:30All right, we've parked up the cable car.
47:31It's very tempting just to push one of these bikes and let them all domino all the way down.
47:36Have I left my key?
47:37I have left my key.
47:38Step one, we're parking.
47:39Remember your key.
47:40So, about to go on the longest cable car in the world, which is a claim I've heard a couple
47:44of times already on this trip.
47:45These are huge.
47:46Fit up to 30 people in these bad boys.
47:47It's got some pace to it.
47:48It's got some pace to it.
47:49It's got some pace to it.
47:50It's like, whatever.
47:51I can't do it.
47:52I can't do it.
47:53I can't do it.
47:54I can't do it.
47:55I can't do it.
47:56So, I can't do it.
47:57I can't do it.
47:58I can't do it.
47:59I can't do it.
48:00Have I left my key?
48:01I have left my key.
48:03Step one, we're parking.
48:04Remember your key.
48:06So, about to go on the longest cable car in the world.
48:11Which is a claim I've heard a couple of times already on this trip.
48:13These are huge.
48:14You fit up to 30 people in these bad boys.
48:15It's got some pace to it.
48:23Endless, endless fishing coast down here.
48:26And we've got the old town just here.
48:34The size is a pilot now. It's just huge.
48:39It's just ridiculous.
48:41So it turns out the cable car at Barnard Hills is the world's longest non-stop single-cable cable car with a length of 5km,
48:53whilst this is the longest three-way cable car in the world at 8km.
48:58But whatever, the views were just incredible as we soared over one island to another,
49:03eventually arriving at Pineapple Island where we'll be spending the afternoon.
49:07Oh, it's a landing.
49:08Ahhhh!
49:12She's waving.
49:14Hello, it's a Tommaso. Hello!
49:16Well, that was amazing.
49:18That was such an epic journey. You're going so fast.
49:21Yeah, it was amazing.
49:23Amazing.
49:24Definitely, if you went to Pukok, this cable car. It's just amazing.
49:29Loved it, loved it, loved it.
49:32To the beach.
49:38So we're going to set up camp here for the afternoon, just relax on this beautiful, beautiful beach.
49:50It is like a resort-y beach, but I don't care.
49:54I'm so, so glad I came to Pukok Island at the end of this trip, just to be chilling out here.
49:58Alright, we have ourselves a little water park.
50:04A flightable obstacle course, which is a lot harder than it looks actually.
50:07Awww!
50:08Are you okay?
50:09Let's see if we can get across here.
50:10Awww!
50:11Awww!
50:12Awww!
50:13Awww!
50:14You made it look way too easy.
50:15Awww!
50:16Awww!
50:17Awww!
50:18Awww!
50:19Awww!
50:20Awww!
50:21Awww!
50:22Awww!
50:23Awww!
50:24Awww!
50:25Awww!
50:26Awww!
50:27Awww!
50:28Awww!
50:29Awww!
50:30Awww!
50:31Awww!
50:32Awww!
50:33Awww!
50:34Just a little bit more.
50:37And you've done it!
50:39Three, two, one, go!
50:44So, ladies and gentlemen, this is not how you do that.
50:47This is not how you do that.
50:48It's easy!
50:55It's on the way!
50:56Awww!
50:57Awww!
50:58Awww!
50:59Awww!
51:00Awww!
51:01Awww!
51:02Awww!
51:03We got the cable car back to the main island, and our fun day out was topped off with a gorgeous
51:07sunset view.
51:08Awww!
51:09Awww!
51:10Awww!
51:11Awww!
51:12Awww!
51:13Awww!
51:14Awww!
51:15Awww!
51:16Awww!
51:17Awww!
51:18Awww!
51:19Awww!
51:20Awww!
51:21Two.
51:22Awww!
51:23Awww!
51:24Ha!
51:25Awww!
51:26I've seemed so many people with it, but my new croatian family all convinced me to get
51:31one.
51:32She adopted him!
51:33I've paid top dollar as well.
51:35I think I probably made way more than I should've done.
51:37But whatever.
51:39As long as I can fit in.
51:40That's all that matters.
51:41I can get the pants.
51:42I can get the pants.
51:43No.
51:44I'd be wearing pyjamas if he'd wear the whole set, but yeah.
51:47I feel ridiculous wearing this shirt,
51:49but then Paddy, from the budgeteers,
51:52wears this stuff all the time.
51:54Voluntarily, so, you know.
51:57I guess if it works for him, it could work for me.
51:59So, we're gonna head down to the Cheeky Traveler English pub,
52:02and then to the Oxen Beach Club for the night.
52:07Oh, no!
52:12Yeah, Bob!
52:14The next day, we'd booked ourselves onto a boat tour
52:19to take us around different islands, beaches, and snorkeling spots.
52:23Just nice, easy, relaxing, fun.
52:26It's gonna be an awesome, awesome day.
52:27First name of the first island.
52:29First name of the first...
52:30The first island has a delightful name of Fingernail Island.
52:35Fingernail Island.
52:37Doesn't that make you just, like, go, oh, like...
52:39But no, if I'm looking at the pictures,
52:40I think we're just gonna be, like, chilling in paradise, basically, today.
52:42That's the plan.
52:44So, we're not going to Fingernail Island, which is, which is fine.
52:55It sounds like a horrible place.
52:57I'm gonna go snorke in two places, then chill on one island.
53:00Let's go.
53:05One, two, three!
53:07Just finished up snorkel buying wine, it's a lot better than I thought it was going to
53:25be.
53:26This is a life, just sitting here with a beer.
53:30Cheers, Murray.
53:31One more, one more.
53:35This is our on-board feast.
53:46We're just going to set up camp here for the afternoon.
53:49They've got one hour to chill at this beautiful beach.
53:52Look at this.
53:53Gorgeous.
53:54White sand, turquoise water, palm trees.
53:57It's not so much more than this.
54:00Everyone here is just living their best life.
54:13I love a good boat tour.
54:14It's like one of my favourite kind of holiday things to do.
54:17Just the simplicity of it.
54:18Cruising around, going swimming, music playing, drinking some beers, hanging out with your
54:23lights.
54:24Yeah.
54:25Love it.
54:26My new Croatian family left Fu Kok the day before I did, but there were still plenty more
54:34friends to make for the final night of my Vietnam trip.
54:37All right, it's the last night of the trip and we were at Joe's Beach Bar, which is amazing,
54:42but they started having a live band and a DJ next door.
54:45You've got conflicting music.
54:47So we bought rum and coke and just came to The Rocks here and just chilled out.
54:52So I've got Holly and Maddie here from Essex, just engaging with so many different cultures
54:57out here.
54:58It's like really expanding myself.
54:59But we've come to The Rocks for sunset.
55:02Perfect last night of the trip.
55:04Cheers guys.
55:05Cheers.
55:06She got the whole bottle.
55:09Take the girl out of Essex.
55:24So there's two things that people are going to say when we watch this film.
55:27The first is, oh my God, when you got ill, I bet that was coronavirus.
55:30And it's like, no, remember all those ways you could get ill before coronavirus.
55:36They're still possible now and didn't have any of those symptoms.
55:39And it's happened to me a couple of times before on trips where I burnt myself out and
55:42I just had to give myself a couple of days rest and get better.
55:45I just hadn't learned from my mistakes.
55:48And the second thing people are going to say is now that we've been locked down and you
55:56can't travel.
55:57I bet you regret not finishing the Hasyang Loop.
55:59And it's like, nope, don't regret it one bit.
56:01And in fact, because we have been locked down, I'm so glad that the last week of traveling
56:05that I had for a long time wasn't spent just battling through trying to finish something
56:09just for the sake of it, even though I was ill and not enjoying it.
56:12So it was 100% the right decision.
56:15And I enjoyed every single second that I was on Fu Kok.
56:18I really soaked that up and just loved having that holiday at the end of the holiday.
56:22I mean, I stayed at an awesome hostel, made a great group of friends.
56:25I loved just chilling on the beach some days and relaxing.
56:28The cable car on the boat tour was awesome.
56:30And I made friends with the guys who ran the Cheeky Traveler English pub.
56:33And I even got to do like a mini set there one night, which was so much fun.
56:40And so all it means is that my plans for redoing the loop have been put back a year because
56:47my Borneo tour from this April got postponed till April, 2021.
56:51And so I'll now go back to Vietnam, April, May, 2022, and I'm thinking of doing it as a tour.
56:56So you guys can come along as well if you want.
56:58And we'll fly into Hanoi, go up to Sapa and do some trekking.
57:01Then do the Ha Giang Loop.
57:03Then go to Cao Bang to see those amazing waterfalls on the Chinese border.
57:06And then finish it up with a cruise around Ha Long Bay when the sun should be shining
57:10and the weather should be really warm.
57:11So that'll be April, May, 2022, which is a way off.
57:14So once those plans are more formalized, I'll let you guys know about it.
57:20But one of the things this whole lockdown mess and losing the ability to travel has done
57:24is that it's been a nice healthy reminder of just what a privilege it is to actually be able to travel.
57:29I mean, if you think about it, by the sheer dumb luck of when and where I was born,
57:34I get to travel to a country as beautiful as Vietnam where there's so much to experience and enjoy.
57:39And it's cheap. It's so cheap to travel there.
57:42And that really is a privilege.
57:43So I just can't wait to go traveling again and experience everything from the bigger stuff
57:48like the natural wonders and exploring new cultures and making friends
57:52to just like the smaller things like having street food or even...
57:56I remember when I was editing this when I was doing the Hoi An stuff
58:00and I just messaged Danny going,
58:02Oh, mate, what I would give to be back at that Irish pub.
58:05I'd be sitting there with a nice cold full pint of beer.
58:08Cheers.
58:09And we could do whatever we wanted that night.
58:11We could go get some food.
58:12We could go explore, make some new friends, go to some bars, whatever we wanted.
58:17As you can see, it looks perfect.
58:19And so the silver lining for this whole lockdown thing we're going through
58:22is that when we can travel again, we're just going to save you every moment that bit more
58:27and have a newfound appreciation for what a privilege traveling really is.
58:31Of course, at summers, like at some time in our life, not really nice, you know, bad luck and all the things.
58:49But just come to the museum and we see that we're super lucky people.
59:04Super lucky.
59:05We don't need to live under the tunnel even one day.
59:07The fresh air, that's enough for our life.
59:10Sometimes Wi-Fi also good.
59:12Come here.
59:13We have three things then.
59:16Good evening.
59:18Good evening.
59:20To be continued...
59:50To be continued...
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