29th Dec cont..........off for dinner we head towards the river to find the tide is extra high and has flooded the road putting us off our first choice of restaurant, so we head back to the Cargo Club where we are approached by a girl who says " You're Marc Bridgens dad, I was having a drink with just before Christmas and he said you were travelling"--she also mention Marc was very very drunk, at which point I asked "but did he have his clothes on?" You where lucky this time son you didn't disgrace yourself! We had a good chat with Jennifer and Paul as I had seen her somewhere before and knew her face which turned out we had seen each other in the Ice Bar, London. Had a super meal in the beautiful surroundings of this great place that has a pattiserie for breakfast, bar for anytime and this great restaurant overlooking the river- a must for anyone visiting. 31st December 2006 NYE woke to a very wet day and the prospect of having to move to a small hotel as the town is pack for the celebrations and Vihn Hung 1 is fully booked. Check out and leave our bags while we go to order a handmade lantern for the music room as we spied a monster that will fit perfectly. Settling on silk rather than paper we pay the account and cross our fingers that we will eventually receive what we have agreed upon. We had booked a table at Brothers for the NYE celebrations but as the weather was so poor thought we would call by to get an inside table rather than a garden table. While we were there it seemed like lunch would be a good idea so as we go into the restaurant - Hello! Jennifer & Paul are having lunch and this is happening all over we keep bumping into the same people we have just met. They set off for Saigon and we go to move hotel and decide to ask if there are any vacancies at the sister resort hotel of VV and luckily there is as the little hotel had given up our room as we had not checked in by 12 noon. Close shave!! Anyway glad rags on and a taxi in the rain to Brothers we get the best table in the house over looking the river and where the entertainment will be. As everyone arrives for drinks the traditional music & dancing gets underway and is very entertaining and what do you know some people from Halong Bay boat trip are in the restaurant with their daughter in her newly made silk party dress looking an absolute picture. Yes I Know where are the pictures? As I didn't bring the software disk am having trouble downloading pics- sorry. A great meal was to follow and then just after 9o'clock we are invited to place a candle lantern on the river and make a wish as it drifts away. There are hundreds of lanterns from all over town that makes a picture so special to behold. We head back into town about 11 to find a bar to see in the new year and go to the Cargo Club which seem the noisiest and most fun, sparklers, fizz and paper filled fire frackers all went with a bang at midnight to round off a wonderful evening.

1st January 2007 Hang overs and sadly a bit of food poisoning for Ann so she has spent the day in bed feeling pretty awful. The weather finally improved about noon so I've had a leisurely day blogging, swimming and cloud bathing. Happy New Year to everyone and thanks for taking the time to read our journal.