Good morning VIETNAM!!!!

What a place - It's a really lovely place with beautiful scenery, beaches, people, culture, food and history. The country has moved on loads since the war...

Started the trip in Ho chi min City (also known as Siagon). Crazy city with the most mopeds and motorbikes that we have ever seen! Its a real challenge to cross the road, like playing chicken..... You can't come to Vietnam without seeing the historical story of the country at the war remnants museum. It was interesting to learn about the history, look at the tanks/helicoptors/journalists photos/torcher chambers including tiger cages they kept the prisoners crammed in for 're-education'! though it was one of thee most sorry,emtional experiences yet - it really touches you, not for the faint-hearted. Makes you really appreciate coming from such a peaceful country.

Headed up the coast to Mui Ne which was a really chilled out/surfy coastal town, still quite undeveloped and natural. Big place for wind/kitesurfing. Stayed in the most beautiful old colonial house/hotel right on the beach - hammocks the lot.

Then it was up the coast to Na Trang where we went out on a boat trip to the Islands. Brian was brave enough to try scuba diving which he loved, I stuck to the snorkelling,exciting enough for me.

Headed further up the coast to an oriential, pretty old town called Hoi Ann. So historical and beautiful with French colonial influences, it's a world Unesco conservation town. It's like Venice, lots of water, crumbling buildings, narrow lanes, bridges and little Vietnamese laterns everywhere. We went on a wooden river boat tour with a wee lady called Hi! She was hysterical, smokin her fags, gold teeth and talking to us in pigeon English. We had to duck on the bottom of the boat to go under the bridges, they were that low. Used to be an old trading town, especially in silks. It has over 500 tailor shops so we were like kids in a sweetshop. Brian got a suit personally fitted and made, I got a dress/coat/robe & made. I also had high heel shoes fitted and made, though when I went to try them on, both the heels broke - the glue hadn't dried yet!! - was so funny - you can't win em all, proper cowboy shop!

Really sad to leave Vietnam and definetly one place we want to revisit, highly recomend it. It's like a calmer more chilled version of Thialand, not too over developed .........yet!

It's off to Bangkok for a night then hong kong next......and only 5 days left...