We were up at the crack of dawn for our flight from China to Hanoi, bags packed and ready to roll. We booked a Didi taxi for just a few quid, quick and painless. The early morning haze felt a bit surreal as we left behind a country that had honestly blown us away.

We flew with China Airlines, and I’ve got to say, the flight was smooth . Lunch on board? Surprisingly good.

Leaving China was bittersweet. That transit visa worked out brilliantly for us; it gave us just enough time to squeeze in some massive bucket list moments from standing in awe at the Great Wall and the glass bridge over the lake to soaking up the history at Tiananmen Square and the palace then the Olympic Park with the water world, was so amazing. We packed a lot into a short window, and every second felt worth it.

Looking back, we’re already missing China more than we expected. There’s so much we didn’t get to explore, and truth be told, we could’ve easily spent a lot more time diving deeper into its culture, food, and landscapes.

It was an epic journey and it was a blast. For now, though, it’s onwards to Vietnam for the next chapter of our adventure!