Ho Chi Minh (aka Saigon) Day 1 (25.06.2012): We had such a sleepless night. It was still around 35 degrees at night last night and with no aircon it was just too hot for sleep. Also a cockroach ran over me and I couldn't even try to sleep after that.

We arose after no sleep at around 7am and had breakfast in the hostel whilst waiting for our bus to Vietnam. We were picked up at 7:45 by the Mekong Express bus service and started our travels. Yet again we got the worst seats on the bus (this seems to keep happening), we had no leg room at all when everyone around us had loads. Just unlucky I think but Adam literally couldn't fit in the seat. We made it though! The border crossings took a while. Had to queue both to check out of Cambodia and then to check in to Vietnam.

We arriving in Ho Chi Minh city (formerly Saigon) at around 3pm whereupon we checked into Phan Ahn Backpackers Hostel. It is a lovely hostel. So clean: aircon, our own plugs, laundry (we finally get clean clothes), lockers etc. Unfortunately we have not been able to check into our double room as the bed is broken or something. We will be able to check in tomorrow for the last 2 nights here. Instead we have a six berth dorm all to ourselves. It's pretty nice and they were very apologetic.

We have completed a mini walking tour of the city and sampled some Vietnamese food. It is a fabulous city. Very loud and busy though. Crossing the roads is almost a suicide mission and extremely scary. I have never seen so many motorbikes/mopeds on the roads ever! Looking forward to exploring more tomorrow.

MR G: I can't reply to comments on here but thanks for commenting J. Haha re. the bikes. It was crazy. I forgot to mention in that blog that when we did finally get on a tuk tuk with the bikes it broke down and we had to wait for him to go get another moped. I will sure still stick with the old bikes though! Hope your travelling blues aren't too bad and your first day back has gone ok.