7pm and the bus from Nha Trang pulls up right outside our hostel for the last drop off point - the Vietnam Inn Saigon, amazeballs! No messing with directions and the taxis with their varying and frustrating fees.

We had booked a 4 person dorm and were sharing with 2 German lads who had been there for 6days already, they were pleasant enough and no bother at all, bonus!
The guys and girls were already up on the roof top bar having tea and drinks, so we did the standard backpacker clean up and joined them.
We were now a group of around 14, made up of a mixture of people we've met along the way. Including the guys we me in Hoi An; Ashley and Craig, Nha Trang; Florian, Muine; Jo, Alice, Helen, Anika, Brandon and Stefan. We then picked up some more guys here in Saigon, its great how easy it is to meet new people. We grabbed some food seen as this was pretty much our first proper meal of the day and started on the beers. We then headed out to the backpacker street where a million and one people were sat on the tiniest of chairs, round small tables with no space what so ever, it was Hanoi all over again but more modern. Seriously you wouldn't believe how many people were spilling out onto the streets. It was cosy that's for sure, a good way to mingle and meet more people!
The following day we were up early to start the journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels. So many tourists again which stops you from taking in the reality of it all a little bit but guess its to be expected when were looking at all the main tourist attractions.
The guide showed us the tunnels they lived in, worked in, fought from and recovered in. The group all got in the squat position and shuffled through one of the tiny, dark tunnels which had already been widened for westerners. It was a bit eery and I was happy to see the natural light at the end after being hunched over and in a squatted position for what felt like ages. Seriously I don't know how the Vietnamese men and women did it , nor how they weren't crippled by it all! We all took turns at trying to fit ourselves into one of the hiding holes, I was a little nervous for some reason about putting myself into the tiny hole but give it a go anyway but made sure nobody could put the lid on and shut me in to the pitch black claustrophobicly small space.
There were some replica boobytraps, now these would have done some real damage to the American soldiers but that's what there aim was. They came up with these ideas as the short legged Vietnamese fighters couldn't naturally out run the longer legged American soldiers so had to devise a getaway plan, ruthless!
When we got to the end of the tour Becky bought some bullets to have a blast on an AK47, jeez was it noisy with all the different kinds of guns firing off at the targets in the distance. I passed - I'm a lover not a fighter ha! I can play G.I Jane another day or maybe Lara Croft when I get to the tomb raider temple in Siem Reap/Cambodia :)

The rest of the day included Pizza Hut, a nap, wake-up shower and then back to the roof top terrace.

Ho Chi Minh is a great place and had a city feel to it with all its tall, brightly lit buildings. The only problem here is the mafia, thieves and pick pockets. So if you ever think about coming here dont think people are over reacting when they tell you to watch your things, you really should! They will go to any level to take what they want! Best not to take anything valuable out at all and do not hold things in your hand because they will literally just take it out your hand and vanish! We've been told so many tales of recent thefts and the guys doing it, well not just guys, women aswel are ruthless. They will literally pull girls to the ground to take their bags, snatch cameras, phones etc out of your hands, con you into a conversation whilst swyping your belongings out of your pockets. With that I decided to leave anything I didn't really need, like my phone etc in the padlocked lockers in the dorm room. That way the only thing Id lose was small amounts of money.

Whilst we were in Ho Chi Minh it was the Chinese New Year- the year of the horse. Chuc mung nám mòi (happy new year)
The only downfall to the NY is that part of the tradition is to stay in-doors for 3 days, therefore nothing is really open and those places that are put there prices up by about 20%, even the hostels. NYE, was ok though as a few things were still open. We met Brandon, visited the Jade Pagoda and then walked through the mass of Vietnamese celebrating on the lovely and brightly decorated streets to get to the Bitexco financial building and headed up to the EON Helicopter bar on the 52nd floor which overlooks the whole of Saigon.
Getting back to the hotel was an absolute mission it seemed like every single citizen and their families from Ho Chi Minh had decided to jump on their mopeds and head in the same direction!! Unfortunately the three of us had to try and cross over these roads and walk through the carnage, a real mental effort but quite good fun in all fairness. It felt like being back in Hanoi but on a much bigger scale with the bonus of traffic lights at a few places. It took it out of us and our brains had turned to mush, so food and bed for us haha!
The whole of Vietnam celebrates this and have been preparing for it ever since we entered Vietnam on the 7th of Jan. They really go all out with the decorations, with masses of bright yellow flowers everywhere to symbolise gold! It looks beautiful.
We had been trying to plan our trip so that we got to spend the New Year (Tet) here in Vietnam so we can see these celebrations.
The hostel had put on a BBQ and DJ on the rooftop, so we sat waiting with the guys for the fireworks at 12pm. Whilst waiting we met Alessandro an Italian who was completely blind after a sky diving accident 4 years ago. He has travelled alone and has already been to 48 countries in 10 months by both land, sea and air!! Amazingly inspirational.

Whilst here we also went to the Museum and post office which was next door to a beautiful Catholic Church.
The War remnants museum had 3 levels showing vividly the effects of the US war on Vietnam. The orange bomb left people with both physical and neurological problems. Seeing the pictures of its outcome makes me realise how I have seen many Vietnamese people on the streets suffering from the effects of the orange bomb, being 1st and even 2nd generations of the war. So the effects still live on not only in the land but in its people. The results have been fatal and shockingly grim. The pain these people must have gone through from the chemicals used to fight against them must have been unmeasurable. War is a confusing and unimaginable occurrence, why torture?! Why kill defenceless and offence-less victims?!

11:30am and the bus to Phnom Penh set off promptly, our first journey on the bus that was not a sleeper bus. 6hours started off easily and comfortably. We were travelling together with Florian and meeting our mutual friend Ashley at the other end in Cambodia.
To get to Cambodia you have to first leave Vietnam, getting tour Vietnamese VISA stamped/ended. Then on entry to Cambodia you pay $25 on the border for your Cambodian VISA. Simply organised by the bus rep.
5hours into the journey and the bus starts casually driving towards a river and then onto a boat! Didn't have a clue what was going on but turns out this is part of the journey!

Hello Cambodia! Xx