Having boarded the train and settled in we are quite alarmed when a family of four join our cabin with a baby ( no sleep) - we needn't have worried as the baby slept 'like a baby' as did we. Nha Trang is roughly 400km from HCMC and as it says on our tickets about a nine hour train journey. After a friendly chat with the baby's father we settle down for the night. At 5.30am we are awoken by a train guard, but realizing that it is at least 2hrs till our destination...

Off to the infamous Cu Chi to the network of 250km of tunnels constructed to defend this agricultural area from the US forces. These tunnels are although individually tiny (they have been made bigger for us tourists) had a big impact on the war. As a US commander said "how can we fight them if we cannot see them". Constructed over three levels to a depth of 10m these tunnels were a place of safety and a place of war for the Viet Cong and civilians. There were ev...

Up rather bleary eyed after a bad nights sleep due to a party next door which went on until the early hours. Even though we are seasoned S.E Asian travellers and came prepared with ear plugs the music was so loud that we were kept awake. Breakfast then off to Cholon (Chinatown) by taxi - it's about 7kms away so too far to walk. Busy busy.. as all these Chinatowns are - there is so much trade and commerce taking place all around us. It is quite different from mor...

Up early for a full day of sightseeing. We decide to take a walking tour from our tried and tested friend 'The Lonely Planet Guide'. Walking a city we find ( however hot and humid is the best way to get a real feel for it). The heat however at 8.30am is perfectly manageable not so sure it will be at 12noon. After passing Ben Thanh Market and the Fine Arts Museum we arrive at Dong Khoi the colonial area of HCMC but not before weaving in and out of motorbikes while...

Through customs very swiftly and hop into a cab for our hotel in District 1; the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao. Our hotel Duc Vuong is very nice and we are welcomed with warm smiles then head out for a walkabout to get our bearings. Although there are motorbikes coming at you from every possible direction the city seems rather serene with it's colonial buildings and green boulevards. We have decided that HCMC sits between Bangkok and Phnom Penh in terms of...