After having loved Cambodia so much i has mixed feelings about moving on to Vietnam, you can tell almost as soon as you cross the border that it is much more modern and arriving into Saigon that is definitely the case. Having arrived though the people are so friendly and the city so vibrant that you can't really fail to fall for it's charm.

We are staying in the heart of district 1, the centre of this huge city and right in the middle of back packer land. The amount of tourists means there is no shortage of places to stay and we ended up in a small back alley in an impromtu guesthouse that has clearly meant the family sacrificing most of their space so they can rent their rooms out. Having to trek through their living room and kitchen, altogether about 3 by 4 metres, is so bizarre but they were very friendly and obviously quite used to it. The room was clean and had 3 fans, a tv and hot water, all for $5 a night, we are thinking of writing to the lonely planet! She deserves it for her industriousness alone I think.

As for the sights, this city is massive we haven't really done it justice but went to the Cu Chi tunnels yesterday, another reminder of the conflict here and an ingenious way to ambush and hide from the yanks. They have been enlarged but are still tiny and very hot, i won't be taking up pot holing that is for sure! Amazingly last night bumped into Abbey and Paul who we met in Battambang, went out for a drink to catch up and they were staying just in the next alley!

Today we walked round most of the attractions in District one, was a bit of a squeeze to get it all in but included some good sights, Notre Dame cathedral with some beautiful architecture, the Reunification Palace, Saigon's answer to the White House, preserved as it was left in 1975. I have learnt so much about the history of these countries and there was more to be said today on the war from the Vietnamese perspective. Again some horrific stories and more to convince of the futility and brutality of war, especially to the civilians caught up in the crossfire. The pictures of the deformities caused by the Chemicals left behind by the Yanks harrowing and is not suprising there was so much controversy caused by the Americans occupation over here.

Tonight we get the bus to Nha Trang, a twelve hour journey but will be good to chill out by the beach for a day after some hectic sight seeing. The journey through Vietnam will be short so going to squeeze in as much as possible. Photos to follow, not good enough internet yet!!