We eventually got to Saigon after a hellish boat trip and long bus journey to the city. The boat was travelling through really rough water and the boat seemed to be jumping in the air like a plane the waves were so big. Then after the boat we had a 7 hour journey to Saigon, which wasnt too bad really as i had a good book and my mp3 to keep me company so the time flew.

When we arrived we took a cab to the main backpacking area of the city which basically was one massive street full of hotels, restaraunts and bars, it looked very lively and seemed like a bustling place. We are staying in a hotel where all 4 of us are sharing a room so its very cheap for us as we are staying here for about 4 nights, its clean very spacious and has a tv with all the channels, even the sports ones where we can watch all the 3 'oclock kick offs in the premiership, rock on!!!!

Our first day in Saigon we pretty much just walked around the place and saw all the sites. There were many museums about the war, and cool buildings and cathedrals here that were built when the french occupied vietnam so that was interessting, we also saw a water puppet show which was really cool, i havent a clue how they did some of the shows but it was really clever.

The next day we went on an all day trip to see a temple which i forgotten the name of but it was quite impressive and then we went north to see the cu chi tunnels, this is where the vietnamese soldiers hid underground in tunnels to escape atacks from the americans. It was an interesting tour as we saw how they made the tunnels and what weapons they used to attack the american soldiers. We also went underground through the tunnels which was very small and so hot underground it was unbearable so it was an eye opener to see what the vietnamese and the americans had to go through during the war.

The next day we went to a war remnants museum which was also an eyer opener to say the least, we saw really graphic photos of both sides of the war and read stories of what went on. You had to have a strong stomach for some of it as it wasnt really nice to see but i am so glad i did see it as i can have a more of an understanding what went on only 30 odd years ago.

Saigon generally is such a nice place and is by far my favourite city so far, its very clean, friendly, so cheap and the food is really nice as they do everything here. The night life is really good but the bars are really spread about the ones nearer our hotel are generally the busier ones as they are full of westerners so its usually a good laugh in them. We went to a bar last night called Appocolypse Now, very expensive but a nice place, we met this couple in there randomly and where did he come from of all the places Amanford, what a character, totally pissed up all night but such a funny guy he came out on holidday one year and basically never went home, he has been out here for 3 years and he has a vietnamese girlfriend who speaks really good english but it was so funny because she has a welsh twang because she has been learning her english from him and he has sucha strong accent. We basically ended up with these two for most of the night until he went missing, we assumed he was too drunk to stand and his misses has had to take him home, he was that drunk, what a guy!!! Us boys got in about 5am so we were knackered the next day.

We have basically seen everything there is to see in Saigon now and it feels like its time to leave but i would definatley come back again. Tomorrow we leave for Nah Trang which is a beach resort which is meant to be really nice as they always say but not looking forward to the 8 hour bus journey so i will have to sort out a good book and charge the mp3. so enough said now im off to bed speak to you soon.

roger, over and out!!!!