Up early to catch the 8.55am flight to HCMC but not without drama. Setting the scene; the night before we had met with old Nuck a great grandma renowned as a seller of Phu Quoc's legendary fish sauce . The sauce has just been granted the geographic status same as Champagne etc.. and is supposed to be the best in the world. Although we had heard it was prohibited to take fish sauce on a plane (due to fear of spillage and it's "aroma??) we bought the sauce and packed it deep within clothes and toiletries.

Anyway as the taxi was on time and we checked in all was good; the veneer of confidence was shattered when the check in girl asked "do you have any fish sauce packed?". Of course I bluffed this lame question easily - "No not us" tripped off my tongue as if I was a regular smuggler.

We milled around the usual airport shops for ten minutes then BING BONG - "Can Mr DAVID J SIMMONDS come to gate 9 please" was boomed over the loud speaker. We had seen Midnight Express and feared the worst as we went through to the back room for interrogation?

"You have Fish sauce in your baggage" explained in clear English.

"No I have Soy sauce" - Will they let me off, will I get some clever clogs wanting to extort me for a few extra dollars??? Thank goodness no - just handed over the sauce and on the flight on time - not the greatest smuggler in history then, but a relieved passenger on the short hop over the Mekong Delta and back to HCMC or Saigon as it is still known. We loved it here at the start of the holiday so fingers crossed for the finale.

Check in to the Grand Hotel Saigon a colonial hotel in Dong Khoi - we felt we deserved a bit of luxury for the last leg. Lunch at Pho 2000 of Pho Bo and then a massage and a walk around what is a great city. Back to the hotel for late afternoon chilling around the pool.

Tonight we intend to hit the Rex hotel bar which has a rooftop bar on one of Saigon's most important crossroads facing The Hotel d'Ville, Opera House and huge modern offices and hotels. This is the bar that was the home from home for all the foreign correspondents during the Vietnam War and oozes history and old world charm. The fact that the beer costs 25 times as much as our cheapest pint is a testament to it's popularity.

Our last day in Saigon, and after a mooch around we find ourselves sitting in the hotel lobby waiting for our taxi to the airport reflecting on our holiday. Even though David is sitting next to me with severe toothache (thanks to the internet he has a 10am dentist appointment on Monday), and I contracted a chest infection due to the damp in Hanoi; all in all we have loved our holiday. Highlights would be the relaxed people, the delicate cuisine and gaining an insight into the nations struggles.

NAM.... WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN THERE !!!!!!!!