The invitation - email in July 25, 2012

I am in the Japan Airlines Lounge (actually its the British airways lounge)- I tried to get an upgrade but no luck. It's only 20 hours to Tokyo. Below is the original invitation for this trip. If it does not make you cry then you don't have a sentimental bone in your body.
Subject: Vietnam

Hey Mom,
Storm has passed over not really hitting Halong Bay and decided to go to China instead. However I am off again today because only 1 boat is cruising.
I have started to put together a plan for Vietnam to see if it is possible for you to join along with me.
I have told the company I will be finishing at the end of August.

The plan I was trying to put together goes along the lines of this. If you could arrive the morning of the 26th or 27th in Hanoi. Then there will be a bus or car to bring you to Halong Bay before 12pm. When you arrive at Paradise Cruises you will check in as a normal guest, and then spend 1 night on my boat with me. Next Morning, I will finish work say my goodbyes and you and I will go back to Hanoi together.
On your Birthday, I will try to organize with some connections a special night at the Sofitel Metropol Hotel in Hanoi ( Nicest hotel in Vietnam). I am sure I can get a great rate!

After we check into the hotel. We will explor Hanoi alittle for the day, as well as we will begin our search for a motor bike. Hopefully on the 28th we will be able to buy the motor bike. If not we will at the latest have to buy the motor bike on the 29th, but I would prefer to buy on the 28th.

I know you will be pretty tired, but on my cruise and our night in the metropol you will be able to get a lot of good sleep.

After we buy the bike on the 28th, we will relax in the Metropol, explore Hanoi, find an interesting restaurant.

On the morning of the 29th, whenever you wake up and feel ready, we will have breakfast and the adventure will begin.

I don’t want to do any driving at night, so I am predicting most of our driving will be in the morning to mid -afternoon. I honestly cannot tell you how far we will go each day, and for how many hours. But in theory we should have enough time to make it to the South.

I can however promises we will have complications along the way… Flat tire, broken down. Heavy rain.

There will be some relaxing stop along the way, and if we are tired maybe we will spend a full day in 1 or 2 locations. I.e Hoi An ( so we can have suits tailored) or Nha trang ( Beautiful white sandy beach capital)

THIS WILL NOT BE A TYPICAL VACATION!!! Its more of an adventure! But I do promises to take you to 1 or 2 nice hotels =)

Getting to Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon) is not really the final destination, I would love to go 1 day further to the very bottom.
(Phu Quoc Island ) and then fly back to Hanoi from there.
Or maybe we get stuck ½ way down, and I have to fly back to Hanoi and go to school.

I have been riding a lot of motorbikes since I have been here and I feel very confident, however I am sure the unexpected will happen!

Anyways before I share any more information in terms of what I am thinking about luggage and other thoughts… Let me know if you are up for the challenge.

Sincerely,

Piers Turner
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