The journey from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh (or otherwise known as Saigon) took us about 12 hours. This journey should be the last long bus journey for a long time as all of our upcoming journeys should take us approx 6 hours (fingers crossed). As we approached Saigon, the roads leading into Saigon surprisingly reminded us of Europe.

We both were a bit apprehensive about visiting Saigon, as backpackers we have met throughout Vietnam have not spoke highly of Saigon. On the other hand, Helen's aunt Chi is from Saigon so she wanted to see where she used to live!!

On arrival, it was immediately evident that Scooters throng the streets by the thousands. Both Nick and I are now experts at crossing roads (we learnt in India) and have learnt that the best way is to just put your head down, cross the road and everyone will swerve around you.

We stayed at Saigon Backpackers, in district one which is otherwise known as the 'heart of the backpackers ghetto'. Our hostel was clean and our dorm beds were enormous, they were classed as singles but could easily be a double. Once we dumped our bags, we headed out for some Pho - a Vietnamese delicacy and on our 2nd last night and Nick finally tried Vietnams most popular/famous dish - Pho Bo.

The next morning we took a tour to Cu Chi tunnels which was a little awkward as our tour guide got very emotional at times and was a little critical of the Americans/Chinese and our bus was full of Chinese people. Our guide was a little mad, but we managed to understand that he suffered at the hands of the Americans and his parents (+ siblings) fled to New York without him when he was imprisoned. (Ironic or what?)

On the way to the tunnels we made a stop at a handicraft village with disabled artisans. Obviously, this is why our tour was cheap as they were hoping to make some commission from whatever sales were made at the handicraft village. Obviously we didn't buy anything...

The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. We saw how the Viet Cong lived, hid and utilised the tunnels to their advantage. We also saw their choice of weapons which were a bit grisly. At the height of the Vietnam War, (or the American War as the Vietnamese call it) the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The Vietnamese believe that the tunnels helped them achieve military success against the Americans.

Nick obviously could not turn down the opportunity to go down the trapdoor into the tunnels. Later on both of us went into the tunnels but they had been widened for us Westerners, even then it was still very claustrophobic and hot. How the Viet Cong's managed to stay down there for weeks on end we will never know!!

At the end of the tour Nick shot some Carbine bullets at the Shooting range and obviously, everyone was worried that we were not wearing ear protectors. But my god, some of the guns being fired were LOUD!! But, our hearing is still intact(!)

After the tour we got dropped off at the War Remnants museum (or as previously known - The Museum of American War Crimes). The name was changed in 1993 after President Clinton visited Vietnam to build up relations. Personally Vietnam should have kept the old name as America should be reminded of their war crimes (including disembowelling children!!!!)

I guess Vietnam wanted to achieve normalisation of relations with USA, which is fair enough. The museum shows brutal and harrowing pictures outlining the effects of the Vietnam war. Both of us found it very disturbing and had to take several breaks.

There were loads of photos/stories of the victims of war, jars of preserved foetuses deformed by the effects of Agent Orange, Photos showing the effects of Agent Orange, after effects of napalm bombs etc - they almost had Helen in tears and she's known for being cold hearted.

Continuing our trail of History we visited the Reunification Palace which was built in 1966. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. The Palace doesn't deserve to be called a palace as its more an office block than a palace.

Round the corner of the Palace, is the Notre Dame, and a Statue in front of the church. In 2005, the statue was reported to have shed tears, attracting thousands of people and forcing authorities to stop traffic around the Cathedral. This was denied by the Church but it doesn't stop Nuns from visiting the statue to have photos taken with it. Literally on the church's doorstep is the Post office which has a striking French colonial feel and we spent half an hour inside admiring the interior.

Our last night in Saigon was spent eating yummy food and stocking up on food ready for our journey to Cambodia. Its safe to say that while we absolutely love Vietnam for its food, scenery, activities, history we have certainly learnt a thing or two about Vietnamese people.

Whatever we say or do seems to offend them and they are physically pushy; there were even some occasions when we felt demoralised and devalued by them i.e. being made to sleep on the top floors of hotels, being made to sit on the floor or sitting at the very back of the bus by the engine and sharing seats with other people. We will definitely be back though.....