Boats, planes,and automobiles

The last 24 hours, have been intense. We left Bangkok at 6am, and landed in Hanoi Vietnam at 8 am not having any idea on what to do next.  We were told by Kia and Lindsay to head straight for Cat Ba island located in Halong bay Vietnam.  After trying not to get screwed by the gangster taxi we dropped off some where in the Len Bien district of Hanoi, which was not a good idea.  Nobody spoke any English, and at one point we were surrounded by Vietnamese people screaming at us. After 5 hours and the amazing price of $7  or 170,000 dong, somehow we found ourselves Cat Ba. Cat Ba is amazing.  We have the penthouse suite on the 6th floor over looking the most amazing view of Halong bay for the whopping price of $3 dollars each.  This was after haggling the price from $10 to $9 dollars.  I'm definitely not prepared for the cold weather, i have a rain coat, and a long sleeve shirt.  I have had to buy gloves and currently looking for a good deal on a puffy coat.  We have planned for climbing here for at least 2 weeks, but i don't know if i can handle the cold.