We explored and wandered down the beach went and had lunch at a lovely beach bar and almost fell asleep on the sand. We decided to rent a bike and just have a drive about but as we walked we found the best spa in town which is recommended by lonely planet, so ed got a Vietnamese massage and I got a pedicure and paint on my feet as the travelling had taken its toll on them!! Was so happy with the result so smooth and fresh out the packet. After the spa we relaxed and researched our next plans in Vietnam and how we plan to travel north towards Cambodia!!

We got dressed up and headed to what the Vietnamese consider a great restaurant the lanterns and ate an amazing Vietnamese curry with fish in it yum and ed enjoyed beef stir fried with rice in a real pineapple was so cool and very tasty!! After dinner we headed to a bar and had cocktails which were under a £1!! We then played pool against the Irish couple, grandad you'd be proud I got a couple in but not enough to win us the game! :(

We had an early start so we went to breakfast and then met our guide with our motorbikes and followed him in a trail to the port for monkey island which was a 4km ride. We got on a boat and travelled for 12 minutes until we reached the island. We were appalled as we didn't realise we were attending a monkey show which was so cruel they were dressed up and forced to perform as they were chained up!! Dogs and goats were also in the show and were repeatedly hit so we got up and walked away so upset with what we had seen. We then went and looked for the 'wild' monkeys which were evil b*****s we brought monkey nuts to feed them and they snatched a packet and growled like dogs trying to hit whoever had nuts, it wasn't a very pleasant experience haha. I fed them nevertheless as there was a clever old monkey that had learnt that if he was nice he would receive food. After we hopped back on the boat and headed on our bikes to a remote location for lunch. We had seafood noodles and salad standard!! We then made our way to the bottom of the jungle which was really cool on the bikes going off road through massive water puddles that still hadn't dried from monsoon season. At times we went flying but hey we survived!! We then started to trek through the jungle for about half an hour climbing rocks and trees to reach the waterfall, it was quite tough. Ants biting and slipping as it was very wet, I even lost my flip flop at one point!!

We finally arrived to the waterfall known as Ba Ho it was amazingly beautiful. We were wet with sweat so were so excited to jump in. Ed and I were first in and swam right under the fall and jumped off rocks into the 6m deep water. You had to keep moving in the water as fish started to nibble on you which was ticklish. We finally convinced the others to get in and sunbathed in the sun it was paradise. Once we had had enough we hopped back on the bikes and headed for the mud baths and natural spring. We sat and bathed in mud before being sprayed with sea water and then hopped in a hot spring which was so relaxing and made our skin so smooth. Then after we swam in hot and cold mineral pools. Was a great way to finish the day. We drove home in mad traffic which was an adventure on the motorbike and then we got ready and headed out for dinner at another recommended Vietnamese restaurant. We had mussels, crab, tofo, veg, noodles and a papaya salad. Yummm!!! We headed to bed early as we were so tired and we had another early start.

We awoke and booked our taxi for vinepearl island which you can only get to by cable car which was so cool across the ocean. This island is filled with rides, a waterpark, restaurants, an aquarium and a cinema, it's incredible. We went in the aquarium and then headed for the slides which were really fun we had such a laugh!! Ed and I attended to dolphin show which was not the best but we got to see a few good tricks. We then went on the bumper cars and a roller coaster which was so small compared to what were used to haha and then we went on a cool ride that took us up the mountain and then sledges all the way down was wicked!! We headed back for something to eat which was western it was amazing ed enjoyed a burger and I tucked into a veggie pizza it was amazinggggg missed home food so much!!! We then showered and got ready to board our next night bus to Saigon!! The bus was again scary and claustrophobic but we survived and slept for the majority of the way arriving in Saigon at 7am where we had to find our hotel in the traffic filled streets, this was not what we were used to being back in a city was loud and daunting. We marched our way to the hotel situated down a very sweet lit up alleyway where we dropped off our bags and headed out for breakfast.

We then explored the city visiting the war museum, the notre dam cathedral, shopping malls, the river, city hall, the palace and a market. It was a busy day and at lunch we had an amazing Vietnamese buffet with sushi and fresh veggies yum yum!! We soon settled into the hostel and made friends with two guys from Singapore who we have planned to grab dinner with later. Ed and I had a shower to freshen up and had a nap and then we awoke and headed to the busy streets. The two Singapore guys showed us some great street food I tucked into a shrimp noodle and veg mix which was so filling and delicious. Ed had the same but beef. We explored the streets and then finally hit a roof top bar which was so cool where we drank the night away getting to know one another which was really cool, when we returned a new girl had arrived and when we went in the bathroom she had wrote redrum on the mirror which freaked us all out haha!!

We woke up really early and ran to the bakery before a guide picked us up for a day tour visiting the cu chi tunnels and the Cao Dai temple where only the one province (village) in Vietnam practice this religion no one else in the world. We were in a large group with a mixture of nationalities, the guide was amazing. A former veteran for the US army but he is half Vietnamese. He told us some eye opening stories about the war and how he still has nightmares today at the age of 63 over what he witnessed and endured. He happened to fight alongside Oliver stone who wrote and directed platoon and heaven and earth and John Carey US Secretary of State. We stopped on the bus half way at a factory where Vietnamese souvenirs are made which was draw dropping as the staff were disabled due to agent orange acid that was used during the war and some missing limbs but were able to create and decorate such beautiful designs and delicate pieces. The tunnels were so scary and small and I had to get out before I got too deep, Ed struggled also and kept bottling it like me but eventually made it 120 metres underground. He came out sweating like a pig and said it was extremely scary. After we explored various traps they used and tried to fit in the small tunnels they used before they made them wider for tourists. Then ed paid half with another boy to shoot a AK47 and M16 machine gun. It was so loud and scary, we were told some visit and spend thousands of dollars shooting the guns all day!! Weirdos! Ed enjoyed himself so much was a very fun day especially hearing the veterans various stories. We made it back late and met the guys before venturing out again. I tucked into various stands food; grilled shrimp and octopus, corn on the cob, coconut ice cream and sticky rice and finally fresh vegetable pho (noodles)!! We done a spot of shopping to spend our last dong and then we then hit a bar having our final night in Vietnam with the great Singapore guys and happened to bump into our friend from up the coast.

We awoke and hopped on our next bus to Phnom Penh which was 8 hours long with smelly Cambodians and we have realised looking outside that Cambodia is similar to India eeek!!
I'm so sad to have left Vietnam so is ed it has been an amazing country I hope to visit again!!

P.s I saw the wedding pictures Libby looked beautiful and Jason of course it looked liked a lovely day. Mum your dress was really nice!! I hope everyone is well back home and nothing's changed too much!! My fingers fine now and my bites but my nails falling off and now ed is on antibiotics for an infection on his leg nothing major though!!