We awoke to very wet and stormy morning in Hanoi. Not stopped by the teeming rain we headed to the streets of the old town in Hanoi to continue our purchasing quest. As the rain got heavier and the streets flooded with water, we found a local cafe to shelter in for a while. It was a great day for hawkers selling umbrellas, rain ponchos and Vietnamese hats, as all the tourists scrambled to stay dry. Prices were hiked in accordance to demand. We settled on the ...

We are back in Business Class! No lines at Paris airport, straight through check in to immigration to the Air France lounge...So spoilt. The almost 11 hour trip was great with Rossco and I getting a little shut eye along the way. We arrived at Hanoi airport at 6:30 am and were whisked through immigration, baggage claim and customs and were at the hotel at 7:30 am. The Hotel is the Intercontinental on Westlake, about 30 minutes from the airport and 10 minute...

For out final day in Ho Chi Minh City we commenced our ascent to the Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck located 262 meters above Ho Chi Minh City. The Skydeck is on the 49th floor and offers spectacular views of Ho Chi Minh City and the asp like Saigon River. At the time it was built (2010) it was the tallest building in Vietnam, however it has now been surpassed by the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower at 345 meters. We spent the rest of the day exploring the city b...

It has been a rainy day in Ho Chi Minh City today with showers for most of the day followed by high humidity. We spent a lazy morning at the hotel recovering from our over indulgences of the last couple of days. In the afternoon we visited Hội trường Thống Nhất - the Reunification Hall (formerly known as the Independence Pallace). Built over 4 years between 1962-1966 this palace was commissioned by the President of South Vietnam to replace the old pa...

This morning we spent our time exploring. It is Sunday Morning, and the city's dynamic has changed from a busy metropolis to a relaxed family destination, with the cities expansive parks spilling over with Vietnamese families. In Tao Dan Park we were treated to the sounds and sites of children singing in the parks, teenagers teaching each other the latest dance moves, mothers and fathers helping their children scramble across play equipment. The smiles were a...