This time a nice bus into Ho Chi Minh city then a transfer to another bus station. We didn't fancy the hoards of taxis so attempted to walk, stopped at a cafe to get some free wifi and sort out a map. After around an hour of walking we finally found our hostel!! Right in the middle of Pham ngu Lao which is backpacker central, surrounded by bars and restaurants.
Spent the following day exploring all the sights. Wandered around and found the palace (nothing special) and The War Remnants Museum. Again very depressing from the war with the 'aggressive' Americans and they had named them. The rooms which they had dedicated to 'Agent Orange' were the most sad and showed how it was still affecting families today!
The next day we visited the Cu Chi tunnels these were so clever, tunnels underground for the viet kongs. They were built small enough so westerners could not fit down them. They all lived underground with hospitals and a kitchen. We got to try going in a tunnel (a special one made bigger for westerners). You could attempt 100m under ground but I could only do 40m it was so claustrophobic and hot! They had all the traps on show that they had used to defeat the Americans which were very imaginative.
Whilst walking around the city I saw cages of puppies which made me so sad as I know they weren't selling them for pets :(. Went to the famous Ben Thanh market and practised our haggling, got some flip flops for $5 who knows if that is a good price!
Spent the evenings in Pham Ngu Lao. So interesting for people watching, every time is trying to sell you something even drugs. There is men cycling around on bikes shaking a rattle and apparently they are offering women or drugs! We found a nice bar and spent the evening with these two Vietnamese boys, they were hilarious we named them Ant and Dec! Another bar we had visited Ash saw rats run across the street, erghh!
Off to Mui Ne the following day to enjoy some beach time :)