Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) formally known as Saigon feels alot bigger than Hanoi, the roads are alot wider, although there are just as many motorbikes on the road making them a nightmare to cross.

Unfortunately I (Lins) spent the next two days not very well (tummy and fever) waiting for the antibiotics to kick in. Ian had to soldier on without me on the trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, and Ian was ordered to take as many photos as poss so I could see what it was like! The Cu Chi tunnels are an underground system of tunnels used by the North Vietnamese Army to hide, live and fight the US and South Vietnamese Armies. The North moved down through neighbouring Cambodia and took up residence in the tunnels only 90 mins drive from Saigon, in order to mass for an attack on the city.

One of the highlights of the trip so far was going on a Vietnamese cooking course in Ho Chi Minh City. We spent half a day with 'Chef An' and his assistant making delicacies such as sour snake head fish soup, rice paper spring rolls with minced shrimp and crab meat in, also, caramelized fish clay pot. They all actually tasted really good. We will be hosting a Vietnamese dinner party on our return, so you can all try them then!

One of the bizzare moments of the trip so far was a visit to see the infamous Water Puppets. Basically a puppet show performed on top of the water, we could not quite figure out the story as it was in Vietnamese but it entertained us for an hour. See the photos of the puppet in a thong! The fairy dance was my favourite...

Tomorrow we will be leaving for Chau Doc where we will catcha boat across the boarder to Cambodia.

xx