Ho Chi Minh City, SaigonToday we left Danang Airport (an old US base) and flew down to Ho Chi Min City (previously known as Saigon before the North took over the South, reunifying the country and making the whole of Vietnam communist).  HCM city is very busy indeed.  In fact there are 8 million people living there, which is double the total population of New Zealand, 4 million bikes and 10,000 taxis!  We would literally cross the road by all formin...

Hoi AnOn day 30 we left Hue for Hoi An.  On the way we stopped off at China Beach where the US army would regularly take holiday from their war duties.  It was a lovely empty beach with crystal clear warm water.  We wondered at one stage if we were wearing frangipani flowers tucked over our right ear or at the back of hair (a sign to say ‘I am free’ or ‘follow me’),as we were soon harassed by children all trying to sell us a...

On day 28, 20th July we visited Hue (Phoung's hometown).  This place is very different to Hanoi, for starters it's a lot easier to cross the road - sounds like a minor thing but it really makes a difference.  Whilst there, we visited the Royal Palace which was once home to 13 emperors and their 500 concubines, wives and children.  It's surrounded by a 10km wall which is 2m thick (complete with plenty of bullet holes).  Unfortunatel...

Wednesday 18th of July saw our trip take us to Halong Bay. We stepped out of our air conditioned minibus into the humid 36 °C sweltering heat. A good day to be on the cool sea. The port was lined… actually jam packed with boats, 3 rows deep all trying to frantically manouever themselves into position. Just as we saw on the roads with the cars and bikes, we also saw with the boats. No giving way, forcing their way through and of course beeping their hor...

Well here goes the first of the Vietnam blogs, our first destination being the capital, Hanoi. We didn’t have very long here just a day and a half separated by a day and night at Halong Bay. Wow what a hectic place. I thought our senses had taken a lot in Malaysia & Thailand but this was even more intense. It began upon leaving the airport. As soon as we walked through the doors we were mobbed by taxi drivers grabbing our bags, gesturing to their c...