Welcome back to Rich and Loll's magical mystery tour of Vietnam! We are now drawing to the end of our visit in this country and will be embarking on the last stage of our journey before heading to Cambodia by boat to the Mekong Delta.

Saigon was a really pleasant surprise, even pulling in in the dark we could see that it was nothing like Hanoi which was a good start! It is a much cleaner, open space with much more of a Western influence. Although hectic the buzz of the city is inviting and we have enjoyed sitting by the side of the road drinking a bottloe of Vietnamese Rum whislt people watching. We visited the Cu Chi tunnels on Sasturday which is a preserved area of tunnel network form the Vietnam War which the villagers and the Viet Cong used from 1960 - 1975 to hide out and attack the enemy. At one point we were allowed to go into a small tunnel section and I went in but Lauren felt to claustraphobic (she was right it was bloody small, hot and pitch black - but I'm glad I braved the whole 100m). Now 100m seemed pitiful when the guide said that the VC used to go 5km each way to attack the American bases! We got the chance to fire some guns on the range., I used a M60 (very big and loud) and Loll used the trusty AK47. She was amazed by the power and after 3 bullets had had enough, though of course I loved it!

After this we went to the War Remnants Museum, a collection of harrowing pictures and stories, complete with 2 jars of pickled deforemd babies caused by the Agent Orange the Americans used for defoliant during the war. Lauren found it very disturbing so had a quick look round and waited by the entrance whilst I wandered and read all the info.

Spent Sunday exploring Saigon, in total about 4 hours walking in the baking hot sun, sufice to say we needed a nap after that (we were up till 4am watchiong the rugby though...woohoo!).

Quick summary of Asia so far then: Amazing countryside everywhere, impressive temples, varied cultures but with all the same focus on family values and tradition. Children just play on the streets running around in the traffic and selling things all day and night although many children seem to go to school and look very smart in their uniforms! Tourism is a massive business and people are always trying to get you to buy something or to charge you twice the rate of local people which is very annoying but part of the experioence. Our favourite parts so far have been:

Thailand - The three day trek in the north and the cooking course (check us out at www.siamricethaicookery.com look at September 24th and scroll down for some pics!)

Laos - swimming at the Kuang Si waterfall and enjoying the good food and drink in the cafes og Luang Prabang

Vietnam - Ha Long Bay would have been up here but otherwise buying clothes in Hoi An whilst the town has held onto its heritage, eating roadside Seafood in Nha Trang and finally the Cu Chi tunnels outside Saigon.

Next blog will be posted once we have been to Cambodia, you will have to wait till then! Take care everyone x x x

P.S. Mum - have a good trip in the Gambia