Rewinding back to July of 2012, Ari and I were greeted by storms rolling into the North of Vietnam. So much so all the Ha Long bay tours were cancelled for the day, luckily for us we weren't booked for those trips until a few days later as we had some mountainous terrain to conquer, but first the capital.

As torrential rain accompanied us on our capital city tour, we got soaked to the core while admiring a number of historical buildings, museums and artifacts. I was ungraciously denied entry into the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh as my dress was apparently too short! Can you believe that? And mind you this dress I frequently wear everywhere in Bahrain. But being the resourceful people they are in Vietnam (and quick to make a buck), I was covered up in a two dollar shawl to look more respectable whist visiting Mr. Minh.