After grabbing some breakfast off one of the street sellers we jumped aboard our bus to the Mekong Delta. After 3 hours on the bus we finally arrived in Ben Tre where we hopped on to a boat and sped across the Mekong River where we had to get on to some smaller boats in order to be able to navigate the network of tiny backwater canals. This part of the journey was really interesting and got me snapping away on my camera. After 15minutes we got off the boat and walked to a little 'factory' that made coconut sweets. The work force consisted of 4 women who would make the mixture and then cut it and package it... on of the women was absolutely rapid at the whole wrapping thing, packing 6 in the time it took the others to do one! Dean was particularly impressed. Of course we were then given the opportunity to sample some which then lead to a sale as they were bloody gorgeous. Back on the boats again we headed back to the main river but not before some cheeky little gits told us we should tip our rowers... they got nothing of anyone. Lunch followed and then we were taken to a bee farm where we had more free samples, this time of honey tea which was yummy. Dean also got to hold one of the honeycombes filled with bees... according to our guide the bees don't sting because they are friendly as the Vietnamese people. Not content with making us hold bees he then passed round a HUGE python for us to hold, thankfully it was well fed. There was also some snake wine on offer for us to try which tasted foul. The Vietnamese believe that snake wine is good for the health. What is it? Wine with a pickled snake in it although in other places we did see birds and lizards in there too. There are all sorts of horror stories about this wine though which did make me feel guilty. Some snakes are apparently grown in the bottle and then drowned in the wine, I hope not but I really wouldn't be surprised. After this we were then taken for a fruit feast where we were also 'entertained' by a Vietnamese folk group who all seemed to be playing a different song to the person next to them. It was then time to get back on the bus and head to where we would be spending the night. We had to get the ferry across the Mekong as there are currently only 2 or 3 bridges and one is under construction. The queue of vehicles was ridiculous and after waiting in the wrong line for 40minutes our coach driver finally got us to the front where we hopped off and got on the ferry. Once on the other side of the river we were in Can Tho where we spent the night.

We were out at 7am the next morning to go and check out the floating markets which start at 3am!!! After yet another boat ride we arrived and the boat circled the market which had fruit for sale. It wasn't quite what any of us expected as it was fairly quiet as the sellers were getting ready to pack up. We were gutted that we weren't there when it was a bit more exciting but I suppose they weren't going to pay a guide to take us at 3am. Our next stop was a rice noodle factory which was really interesting as we'd eaten so many of them throughout our trip. God knows how the people there work as the heat was ridiculous due to the steam generated in the process. We were all dripping after just 10minutes there. They also had a pig there that was the size of a cow, it was massive and undoubtedly extremely well fed! Another floating market awaited us an hour and a half down the river and this one was even more disappointing as there were about 6 boats left but nevermind.

We then headed back to Can Tho and Dean and I separated from the group as we were getting a bus to Rach Gia where we could catch the ferry to Phu Quoc island. After a cramped bus ride, which we are getting ll too familiar with now, we arrived in Rach Gia. The motorbike mafia are everywhere and after politely telling them we didn't want to go by bike we headed over to a taxi but they followed us and told the driver not to take us!!! A little worried to say the least we looked around for some help but in all honesty who were we going to turn to? So our only option was to start walking and 100m down the road the taxi driver pulled up and offered to take us! He said that the xe om drivers had threatened him and told him to refuse us... geez. That evening we went to a local bar for some food and who should be in there but the bloody motorbike drivers! Turns out that they weren't complete a*******s though as they proceeded to teach us a bit about Vietnamese culture. *Beer in hand* "you drink half and then I drink half". Dean was given about 6 pints to share and one of the Vietnamese women wanted to share with me and so I downed half a pint because I couldn't let you down mum ;) A guy from another table then brought a pint over for Dean and then one for me and so I was forced to neck more of the stuff. It's a great tradition though and one we think England should embrace... maybe it's somthing we could bring to the Bull? Only problem is, they were all hammered after an hour and so went home... bloody light weights!

The ferry to Phu Quoc the next day was fairly smooth thankfully. We headed to Long beach is where most of the tourists stay as the island isn't really that well developed. Opting to stay in a little bungalow in the middle of a forest proved to be a good decision as it was really serene and only a 5 minute walk to the beach. Another bonus was that there was a bar next door owned by an English bloke and his Vietnamese wife and so we got luxuries such as bisto gravy and kellogs cornflakes!! :O doesn't sounds much but it was a little taste of home much appreciated. We spent most of our evenings here drinking with the owner and a few of his friends. The island was at the end of the season and so everywhere was really quite but it was still good. On a couple of the days we rented a motorbike and went to the other side of the island to Bai Sao beach which had white sands and crystal clear, still waters. On they way back the second day we took the road behind the dirt road that runs next to the beach... thank god we did. After riding throught the middle of nowhere for 20minutes we felt a rattling and upon inspection the back tyre had gone, great! A couple of locals emerged from the trees and pointed down the road, by some stroke of luck we were 100m from a little garage. We pulled the bike in and sat down expecting a long wait as there were several other people with ill looking bikes. 15 minutes later and only 2 quid lighter, we were back on the road. Jammy b*****s!

Phu Quoc gave us chance to recharge and a week later we got the ferry back to Rach Gia and then hopped on a local bus to Chau Doc where we would get a boat to Cambodia. The bus was the most cramped we've been on: picture the stereotypical 13 seater mini van and the 26 women and children crammed in, no air con and every available space packed with bags of food (mainly fish) and clothing and that's how we got to Chau Doc... it was an experience.