Slept really well so was ready to go this morning. Most of the museums close around 11 and then open around 1 to 2 until 5 or 6, so we wanted to be off earlier. Had some breakie and walked to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, only about 20 mins away. Was only 15,000 to get in and it was interesting. Though like a lot of attractions here, nothing to really write home about! There were millitary memorabillia and some info about weddings and the recent history with boats and a large collection of money/coins through the ages. I bought a nose flute from the shop... ill practice and be a pro when i get back! We left there at 11.45 and had a walk to the post office to post post cards. Bought a little lacquered pot that i have had my eye on and 2 little vietnamese figures. By then we were hungey so went for lunch at the same slightly french cafe we went to the other day. I had spring rolls and Claire had a sausage and cheese sandwich, we saw a little gecko running along the wall next to us and rememinded me of Alex! The Reunification Palace, formerly the Independance Palace is very big, but once we were inside (admission 15,000VND) we saw it used to be a lot bigger and a lot more ornate. It was refurbed in the 80's and lost some of its charm i think. Its now kinda modern with weird type of concrete 'ornate' shaped bars covering the front facade. There was some sort of jamboree going on in the grounds, lots of kids and tents and activities, it looked a lot of fun, but we couldnt work out what exactly was happening!

Inside was another museum, but not much to it, you just looked at the rooms in most of the Palace, banquetting room, cabinet room etc etc, we went onto the roof and saw a replica helicopter though which was good. We also went down into the basement, it was the communication area, but there wasnt much to that either and it was so hot! It was all ok for a bit less than a pound! This is the building that the president and other officials and American millitary got rescued from during one of the indochina wars - its what Miss Saigon is based on, but the vietnamese dont seem to have connected this to their marketing or souveiners! Took a leisurely walk back toward the hotel and located a couple of the restaurants in the guide book, we may go to one of those tonight. Back to the hotel by 3 to have a bit of a rest and a relax, feet are aching again! Only nearly a week since i arrived, feels like 6 months!