Ok i arrived into HCMC yesterday afternoon, and i had a look around the local market - omg i was compeltely mobbed. People were physically pulling me from side to side, it was a little unnerving whilst amusing at the same time.

It finally calmed down and I managed to buy some new sunglasses to replace to ones that came off in the sea in Sinoukville. The haggling was quite good fun and i figured out you should be paying 50% of what they first offer to you, and by walking away you get loads off!!

After the market we met up with the rest of the group for the last supper before i take on the rest of vietnam by myself! It was a good meal and we then went for a couple of drinks and went to a very scary bar.

when we got close to the bar about 15 of the staff mobbed us and tried to get us into the bar, which we eventually went into. We got sheparded into a room upstairs where they insisted that they shut the doors and the windows and cranked up the music. At this point it got a little stupid so we decided to go somewhere a little less aggressive. (it felt like a horror film lol)

We found another bar instead and danced the night away with 30p beer and 90p vietnamese rum and coke, which was suprisingly good and a little addictive. This resulted in a 3am bedtime to get up at 7am to go on a trip to the cu Chi tunnels - tired!!!

After the initial 2 hour drive to the tunnels (yes i did sleep the whole route) we got to the tunnels and it was really interesting and fasinating. I tried to get into one of the entrances and due to the obviously weight variances i got as far as my arse - very funny for everyone else.

We then actually crawled around some of the tunnels which were easier to get into but were still got very muddy as it was a hands and knees job. the tunnels were 200km long and 16,000 soldiers lived in there - absolutely amazing!!

Nearer the end of the tour the boys on the group (Gareth, Gregg and I) ended up having a go at shooting a AK47 and M16. This was wierd but quite good fun as i wont get a better chance to have a go! I hit 2 targets out of 4 - i thought this was ok?? Gregg was the hero though as he managed to hit one of the smaller bottle targets. Rambo quotes during the shooting, "live for nothing, die for something" were a must.

the rest of the day was spent in the war museum and a motorbike taxi home which was (excuse my fremch) s*** scary! The roads were mental with everyone having a free for all, so i held on tight and hoped for the best.

Lastly eveyrone else on the trip has moved onto Nha Trang on a night train whilst i go to Vinh Long tomorrow on a bus by myself. This is already booked at the grand total of $4 it wont break the bank.

The price of food and drinks is amazing, i even bought 3 banana's for 3p yesterday for breakfast.

Anyway speak to you all soon

Mark