We only have one day in HCMC, which is a pity because it looks quite an interesting place. More modern and cosmopolitan than Hanoi with smart shopping malls (unfortunately full of Western chains including Debenhams, Gap and Accessorize so that once inside you could be anywhere in the world); skyscrapers, plenty of Western-style coffee houses and the people dressed noticeably more fashionably and, a few, at least, driving bigger cars than in the capital. However, there is also a strong French influence still evident with buildings and squares that would not be out of place in Paris.

Other travellers have warned us that the traffic here was even worse than Hanoi. In fact because many junctions have traffic lights it is generally easier to get around. Mind you doing so is not without excitement. There are 4 million motorbikes in HCMC and when crossing the road it can seem that a sizeable proportion of these are lined up at the lights just waiting to mow us down. This, not entirely irrational thought, is highlighted by the indicator on each set of lights which counts down the seconds until they turn green. As it gets into single figures, there is a palpable sense of itchy fingers on throttles just waiting for the moment when they can zoom forward and obliterate us.

However, we do manage to negotiate our way around part of the centre. We go past the former Presidential Palace scene of one of the most memorable images from the liberation; of a tank crashing through the gates. There are posters everywhere advertising the 37th anniversary of the liberation which will be next Monday.

On our walk we come across an amazing shop selling large and detailed wooden, scale models of all sorts of ships, including fully rigged sailing vessels. They look fantastic and are incredibly cheap. A 3-foot long one of a racing yacht costs less than £20 yet they must take hours to build. Such a shame we don't have room for one in our luggage.

We also pass many street sellers including several selling ice-cold coconuts. For just a few dong they will slice the top off and you can have a cold, refreshing drink of coconut water. I think I may have found that next career I need now that management consultancy is such a dead end.

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