I ended up going on the 2 day one night cruise. The $200 I spent got me transportation from my hotel and back, the trip, all meals (5), water, kayaking , clamming, a food demonstration, and instructions on how to wrap  the rice paper rolls to make spring rolls, then we had to make them. There was squid fishing too, but I didn't, only 1 pole for 8 people. I shared the boat with 7 Germans. They did speak some English, but they were young and I didn't want to intrude. I did get some help a couple of times from them. We also went to a cave (not much to write home about), but the view of Halong Bay was good. IT was mostly very hazy, as in most of it was on my trip anyway. I'm not sure how much was haze from the heat, and/or pollution. I did a little Tai Chi with a form I was not familiar with, probably a 10 step. I asked what form, and Daisy (who lead) said "the normal one". Daisy was our cruise director. She is a senior in college, with a double major of English and Russian. She finds Russian to be much harder than English. At least with English, the writing is the same. Daisy had a good handle on the English language and made some jokes. I earned a free beer because I knew the meaning of the name Ha Noi (inside the river). The Vietnamese call it Ha Noi, not Hanoi as we do in the west. I learned how to say thank you (Cam Oon), and Cheers (Mot Hi Bs Yo - which means 1,2,3 cheers!) . When I got back to the hotel, they said "Welcome home!" Very sweet. Also, the traditional noodle soup is written Pho, but pronounced Fu. I will have it here for breakfast tomorrow. I got to a lake today, it was walking distance from the hotel. Being Sunday, everyone was out. For once, I didn't have to fight traffic. The street was cordoned off so we could easily walk and enjoy the area. Lots of people selling things, like tourist stuff, something like taffy, sold between 2 large round wafers like a sandwich. People played music. You could have your face drawn. It was busy but navigable. I had sun all week. I missed going to the museums which were closed Sunday and Monday mostly. I had been looking for convertible slacks in the US for some time, but actually got 2 pair here for $34 US together. It'll be nice and light for the rest of the trip, and neat enough for Bangkok and Hong Kong for the view days I return. It's still pretty hot here, and no sea breeze like Patong City. Tonight, on TV I will be able to watch "The Ghost of Nantucket" of all things. At the Green Farm Restaurant I've been going to, one of the waitresses thought I was Julia Roberts. I'm not sure how Julia would react, but it was fun for me. This is my last night in Ha Noi. I leave the hotel at 7 AM (not my finest hour), and off to Patong via Bangkok. Internet should be more stable, and my plan is to head straight for the mall to get a Happy Tourist Sim card. The internet seems to be stronger off the phone than the hotel's, so streaming is more successful. Off to spend a little time out, for my last night, and early bedtime. I figure if I get up around 5AM ugh, I can shower, finish packing the last bit of shower stuff, head down to breakfast just before 6:30 when they start, come up and grab my luggage, and go.