By 8 a.m., I was climbing Ti Top Island. It looks high, but it was only about a 15 minute walk to the top. The island is named after Ghermann Ti Top, an astronaut of the former Soviet Union. Ho Chà Minh accompanied him to this island in 1962. To commemorate Ti Top's visit, they named this island after him.
As always, the view from the top was worth the walk up.
We lounged on the beach for a bit and went for a quick swim before we packed up and headed back to Hanoi.
On board, they schooled us in the art of making Vietnamese spring rolls. I am much better at eating them than I am making them. The trick is to use two sheets of rice paper. I probably ate at least 10 during our 3 day trip.
It was a relaxing boat ride back to the wharf. The 4 hour bus ride back to Hanoi wasn't as relaxing. We got back to Hanoi around 5 or 6 p.m.
I relaxed for a bit at the hotel then headed out in search of cha ca, a specially cooked fish famous in Vietnam. I initially set out for the famous Cha Ca La Vong, but was told by a local that this is no longer the best place to get cha ca. After a long search, I ended up at Cha Ca Thang Long at 21-31 Duong Thanh. It was packed with locals and none of the employees spoke a word of English--always a good sign.
They fry up the fish tableside with piles of fresh dill and scallions, then mix it with rice noodles, peanuts, basil, cilantro, peppers and a special sauce. It had such a unique and addicting flavor. I'm already craving more.
Tomorrow I will check out some of the sights in Hanoi before I hop on an overnight train to Sapa.
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Location:Halong Bay, Vietnam
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