Oh hi there! I've been trying to upload photo's but it's a nightmare - it's uploading 1 picture every 5 seconds at least, and I have about 142 to add to the first album, let alone the rest to add to keep you all updated! I am getting bitten loads too by Mozzies so I've cut it short and will add to the album another day.

Our last night in Hanoi was great - free beer, happy hour, meeting new people (and also some Pompey people!), heading back not too late (but quite drunk) ready for our 5 hour coach journey at 8:30am.

The morning was a bit of a disaster - James thought he had lost the bus tickets! We looked everywhere in every bag, several times and 8:30am came around with us still without our tickets. STRESS TIME. But eventually he found them, in his bag, where we had both checked, twice!!! Strange. Then the bus arrived and between leaving the hostel and getting on the bus, we lost our huge bottle of water (which was desperately needed!!!) It was probably the bumpiest bus I have ever been on, and we discovered later that it's because mine was a wheel arch seat, it wasn't pleasant at all!!! Nevermind. We arrived and were relieved to see the sun was shining! On the bus was 2 lads (Jason & Tez) from Southsea, what's the chances?! We're staying in the Hoa Binh hotel which is lovely, and they are staying across the road from us as it's a wee bit cheaper. We'll be meeting up with them at the next destination as they want to do diving, as does James. I will snorkle and sunbathe though ;-)

It's lovely here, we visited the beach today and we are both burnt (oops), but it was beautiful and the sea was really refreshing. The food is very cheap and delicious (I finally feel normal again so bring on the local food and cheap drinks!) I had a scrambled egg warm baguette for breakfast which cost approx 60p, and we both had a delicious lunch of pork and noodles & spring rolls which came to about 1 pound each! The beer in one place is about 35p which makes Jimbo a very happy man - I will be drinking vodka or rum & coke for about 60p so I too am happy!

Can you believe how hard it is to get a bloomin' beach towel in this country?! We only found one place out of our whole time being in 'Nam that sells them! So now we can get in the water as much as we like and it won't matter.

Most people travel by Moped/Motorbike in this country and their driving is a little mad, however in Hoian it's much, much calmer than the likes of Hanoi. It's really cheap to rent a moped out here, about 2.50 for the whole day, so if I feel brave enough then we might get one to go to the beach!

We have one more night after tonight in Hoian and then will be heading to our next destination, which is another night bus. Which reminds me, I need to buy sleeping pills!!!

As some of you will have heard, Facebook is mostly banned in Vietnam so I haven't been able to get on to update or upload pics! I finally have got on to free Wifi though, so if anyone has Whatsapp then send me a msg!

You can leave messages/comments/email on here too so don't forget to keep us updated with what's going on back home :)

Much love, Nikkie xxx