Back on the railroad today and a 3hr journey north to Dong Hoi, the gateway to Phong Nha National Park and the Phong Nha & Paradise caves.

After an enjoyable stay at La Vela Hue, we waved goodbye to the splendour of our hotel and got back to the more basic accommodation of the Vietnamese railway system.

Hue station was a basic affair, however the staff were friendly and helpful and we joined a young family in our sleeper cabin.

For reasons unknown, Michelle found herself in one carriage on the top bunk, whilst Andy was next door with a young family and there 4 girls, also perched on the top bunk. The journey went smoothly and within 3hrs we had safely arrived in the small city of Dong Hoi, our home for the next 3 nights.

We our staying at Melia Vinpearl, a fantastic hotel which is very glam with big white rooms and views out over the river and the beach beyond.

After an hour of unpacking, we headed out for a walk around the waterfront in search of a restaurant for dinner.

The city landscape is relatively modern, as much of the original city was destroyed due to heavy bombing in Feb 1965 during the Vietnam War.

We walked past a large traditional market on the docks selling fish and an amazing array of fruit and vegetables.

Behind our hotel we came across a Red Rose Remembrance garden, recognising Vietnam veterans.

This city is the narrowest land of Vietnam at around 40 km from the east to the west. With Phong Nha national park, our planned cave tour destination, sitting between Dong Hoi and the border with Laos.

The city has a blend of old and new tourist attractions, with the Quang Binh Quan being a focal point.

We took a wander along the riverfront and saw the bridge that leads to Nhật Lệ Beach, where we plan to relax on Wednesday, as we were told it boasts crystal-clear blue water, soft white sand, and a tranquil atmosphere!

As the sunset we came across a group of locals doing meditation in the park. All looked so calm and peaceful.

Further down the waterfront we came across the Tam Toa Church, a Catholic cathedral, which was severely damaged during the Vietnamese War and the bell tower is the only remaining part and has been retained as a monument.

The eclectic mix of activities continued, as we came across a sea of small electric push bikes for kids, which you could hire and drive around the promenade. Despite Andy’s protestations, we decided to give this a miss and continue with our search for a recommended place called the Tree Hugger Cafe.

The cafe proved to be an oasis of calm, and was frequented by other travellers who we recognised from our train journey up from Hue.

The food was delicious and presented in such a great way and proved to be super cheap, costing just £7 including 3 beers!

Our next goal was to find some dessert and we came across an ice cream shop selling soft scoops, again really cheap!

The nights sky on our walk back to our hotel was lit by the several bridges that connect the river to the main beach area and we were pleasantly surprised to see so many people out relaxing taking advantage of the cool breeze off the water.

Making the most of the cooling temperature, we came across some local teams playing Paddle tennis – who knew the game had travelled to SE Asia.

We eventually arrived back at our glitzy hotel and Michelle did her best to create an ‘A’ shape, in honour of our daughter Amelia!

Tomorrow we have an early start as we head to do a days tour in Phong Nha, a national park which is home to over 400 caves.