Good morning Vietnam!

What a place. We’ve barely been here 18hours so I need to take time to digest everything before reaching firm conclusions but a few early feelings:
1. The countryside is/was beautiful and exactly what you’ve seen in the movies.
2. It’s being significantly exploited for industry (the stunning limestone features being quarried for concrete) and for mass tourism.
3. The people seem warm, friendly and curious but no-one can drive a car/ride a moped safely. It’s total chaos and the journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh was the most ‘exciting’ of my life…..and I don’t mean that positively.
4. Our first meals have been fresh and delicious and the tourist dollar goes a long way.
5. Overall, it feels a bit like Spain did shortly after Franco opened it up and people are making money and doing brash stuff with no control from city hall. Having said that BBC.com is blocked in Vietnam.