Vietnam! So Far.......

Saigon

We reached Saigon on Saturday Feb 14th after a very long day travelling! Though it was worth it. Saigon is very clean, green and busy with lots of backpackers and locals, a really good mix.
Knowing this was our last night with the Cambodia group we knew it was going to be a big night and we wasnt diappointed! Woo!
Terryn and Harley left us to go onto thier other hotel on Sunday morning but they missed us all so much they met up with us on Sunday night for dinner, saying bye was really hard :-( but the fact that me and Nat are going to stay with them in Wellington on route through NZ is nice so its all good!
On Monday we went on a boat trip along the Mekong river so many different factories to show how many raw materials are used to make such vital things such as salt, malt and Bricks........very weird day but interesting too ha! We were then walked through the jungle for at least an hour before we rached our lunch destination. A little worried about the price this lunch was to be we wrre a little jubious but when the five couse meal came out we were not disappointed. One of the most tasty meals i have eaten! This was nice as we had the homestay that night and after our experience in Cambodia we were glad we ate before arriving but were pleasantly surprised when we finally reache dour homestay in the middle of the jungle and right on the edge of the mekong, it was very nice. After a late afternoon bike ride around the local town we enjoyed a delicious dinner :-)
All in all a great day, much better than we anticipated!
The following day we left early and made our way to the Cu Chi tunnels, sparing details this was amazing. Some of us dared to get in the tunnels and make our way through 500metres to the other side, including me ( yes im proud of myself) we were all a bit sweaty and shaky when we finally made it out! I cannot believe the vietnemese lived down there for 10 years and more. There are over 280km of tunnels WOW!
Felling very smelly and tired we got back to Saigon for a shower and then just in time to leave for our overnight train to Nha Trang.
All slightly dubious about the train we boarded and found our sleeper cabin. We were amazed at how clean this was! Nice air conditioning, a TV ( thats didnt work but still!), clean sheets and flowers on the table! How nice!
We all settled to sleep quite easily and awoke to Amy shouting quick quick its about the pull ion, infact she had set her alaram too early haha!

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is half way uo the coast of Vietnam and is very much a tourist place, just beaches and bars, which was fine by us! We spent our days here chilling out and partying ( surprise surprise!!)
After a rather big night we had booked to go to the mud baths, my usual stubborn self was not going to miss out just because I had a hangover so i dragged myself onto the bus and made it there.
The mud smelt bad but actually did wonders for our skin, we felt like new women! ha! After the mud bats and a shower we packed and headed off for our second overnight train to Hoi An, this time excited as we knew how nice it was........WRONG! This train pulled in, we boarded to find our cabins had been slept in, were filthy dirty and had ahir everywhere. I think i can safely say none of us slept very well.......YUK! We kept reminding ourselves in was all about experience! ha!

Hoi An

Hoi An so far has been shop shop shop! This is a very small town with many tailors and lots of gorgeous clothes and shoes at such small prices you cannot help yourself. I however have only bought 3 beach dresses, very good of me i thought. Whereas all the other have had suits and dresses, boots, shoes, sandals, coats.......you name it we have it! I have just been offering my opinions! Shock horror!
Must go, am back off to lie in the sun :-)

To be continued.............. xx