Sunday 17th July - Ho Chi Minh CityAs soon as I steped out the door of the airport I could see this was a very different place; the commercialism hit. Fewer motorbikes and more 4 wheel drives. The desinger shops lining the streets really wasnt what I had expeteed.... but I guess I had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Out of Hanoi, Hoi An and Here its the only place that hasn't been the captial - yet everything that radiates would indicate it should be. I h...

Friday 15th July 2011 Another 4 hour bus ride before we could arrive at Hoi An. We drove through very mountainous landscapes before arriving at the white beaches of Hoi An. We paused at the famous 'China Beach' before checking in at our hotel. The weather already seemed cooler, that sea breeze was present, and the pace seemed slower, calmer and more inviting. Our hotel was a very French building with a dramatic staircase, mother of pearl encrusted ornate f...

Sickness hit. That pork meatballs in noodlie-soup turned out to be not so hot. Only few hours back at the hotel after the puppet show things started a gurgling. Nevertheless I headed out for dinner! Ate at a great local place where they were literally queuing across the road. The meat was cooked in mins in the boiling water in your bowl.... I didn't eat much but hadn't twigged this was because very soon my world would turn upside down! All aboard the nigh...

I have found myself speachless and overwhelmed for the last day... although it feels more like a week. Time is going amazlingly slow. Halong Bay is the most enchanting and majestic place I have ever been too. Hanoi is the bussiest, noisy yet enderring city with never a silent moment. Sunday 10th July To begin my hetic and wet day in Hanoi I ventured from my little hotel towards the Dong Xuan Market, the original structure had been burnt down so it was quite ...

Wow - first major balls up of the trip - mayyybb missed my flight! haha I finished last night with the people from the hostel after having a great dinner and headed to bed to ensure I would make my early flight - however my body had other plans and I woke up as my flight was departing! Couldn't believe it! My mum had to endure a good early phone call of a desperate child! Nevertheless I managed to secure another flight, and although it may have cost at...