Helo there everybody, I am currently in Hoi An which is central Vietnam. We had a Hanoi guided city tour in the morning, seeing the sights such as the Hanoi Hilton. Now you wouldnt want to stop here as its not the Hilton as we know it but the alternative name for the Hanoi Prison that is no longer in use but has been turned into a museum. Its prety grim and basicaly you wouldnt want to commit a crime in this place. Horrible conditions in which prisoners were cuffed by the ankles, cramped into small cells and tortured. The hilton part refers to the new office tower that has been erected in the grounds, meening only a small proportion of the prison remains. We then visit the temple of literature and the Muausoleum where Hoi Chi Mins body (the late president) was laid to rest. The afernoon was free time to wander the city so we go for a nice lunch and a wonder before leaving for the night train. The sleeper train was ok to say the least. After 13hrs with broken sleep paranoid that we would miss the stop we made it to the next place Hue.

Hue was the capitol of Vietnam from 1801 to 1945 before Hanoi took the title. We drop our bags then board a dragon boat to sail down the perfume river. It is a horrible day today as it is chucking down with rain but we battle onwards. We stop of after a couple of hours down the river at the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. He was the king from 1847 to 1883 and when he died this holiday home/palace was turned into his tomb even though technicaly his body is not here, so ? to that one. We have some scrummy lunch and a chill out before heading out for yet more food. Its so cheep in Vietnam why not indulge.

We leave Hue and jump on the bus to travel about 4hrs to Hoi An. We reach Hoi An at lunch time and go straight to lunch at a local restaraunt which again was fab. It was crispy pancakes and satay pork rolled up with salad in rice paper and dipped in yummy sauce. The lady kept bringing out more and more before we could finish what was in front of us so I was stuffed to say the least. This was not a good thing as we were heading straight over to the tailers to check out the cloths and have some made. I was like a kid in a candy shop and after checking out the many designs and patterns and material choose a dress to be made. We only realy had today to do this as after tomorrow most of the shops shut for the celebrations of the lunar new year. So with my dress choosen they get to work and I have my fitting later on that eve (fast work). I just wish we had more time because these people can lierally make anything for you its great! We go to dinner for an italian to break up the onslaught of Viatnamease fodd and back to the hotel.

The next day we have a guided tour of Hoi An and see the old houses the japanease bridge and a temple. Hoi An is realy nice and has a slower place than the other places we have been but the amount of tourists here is unreal. You can tell everything revolves around tourists and you cant walk down the street without someone shouting from there shop to come inside and buy something. The food here is to dye for though so as we go to a great restaraunt for lunch. At about 15quid for several courses and a drink its great and it is some of the best food I have tasted. Not just Viatnamease but others too, I could just stay here for a week and eat and shop and be merry!

We hire bikes the next day and go on a long (27k) bike ride from 9am to 4pm and Ill tell you what its one of the best bike rides that I ahve ever done. We are load our bikes onto a rickety boat and sail over to the nearby island where no tourists go and cycle through small villages and farming countryside. Each place and house we pass the locals wave us on and the little children come running out screaming helo at us as if we are celebrities. Its great and the people are so friendly, but not the you are a walking wallet friendly as they can be in the tourist locations. This is like real Vietnam its ace. There a fields and fields of young rice and people working hard on looking after them. The roads are quiet and the people are just so pleasent it is the highlight of Vietnam so far. We stop off as we see a man walking his water buffalo, yes buffalo and crazy silvia decides she wants to ride it (just like the locals do) Well it was very calm and slowly plodded off with her into the watery rice field, it was so funny and the locals thought so too. It must have been a strange sight to them seeing this western lady sitting on a buffalo. We then cycled overa bamboo bridge and onwards to another ferry boat to take us back to the mainland and to the finish. It was a fantastic day and well worth the very sore bum that I have now. Another deliciouse dinner and then flat out in bed. We unfortunatly leave Hoi An today to take the long train journy to Nha Trang so will fill you in with what this place has to offer. Love lots xxxxxx