Vietnam!

After a rainy week on the coast of Cambodia we headed to Ho Chi Minh CIty in Vietnam and were greeted by glorious sunshine but miserable people! Ok, they weren't all that bad, but it was just a bit of  shock in comparison to all the other South-east Asian countries, where everyone would at least smile at you when they stared. But the Vietnamese seem to be far more used to tourists, and so were far less friendly- we were even refused service at a street food stall on our last night because the owner "has a problem with foreigners"!!

On the other hand, Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries either of us has ever been to- our favourite country on this trip so far! We went to 8 different places and so managed to see huge cities, beach resorts (being dominated by Russian tourists), quaint towns and some incredible scenery.

Vietnam is very well known for its food, and it was so good to be able to have something new practically everyday and it always be amazing so good in fact we decided to splash out 25 quid each on a cooking course where we learnt to cook some favourites and also had unlimited alcohol and use of a swimming pool for the day.

"Ok everyone you have a 5 minute break before we start cooking"

Our first stop as we said was Ho Chi Minh CIty (formerly Saigon), where we had a good few history lessons where we learnt about the Vietnam War (or American War as it is known in Vietnam). In the War Remnants Museum, which was extremely interesting even if it was incredibly biased. Wayne spent such a long time looking and playing on the old tanks and helicopters, that when we were looking around the museum it was announced that it was closing. Before we had time to say OK, the lights had been switched off! This is the standard sort of business of Vietnam.

We had some amazing moments in Vietnam.

Shooting an AK47 and crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels built and used by the Viet Cong in the jungle during the war...

We played on the Sand dunes in Mui Ne....

Joined hundreds of Vietnamese families on their holidays in the highlands in Dalat, and on the beaches of Nha Trang and Hoi An...

Rode a motorbike (yes Keelin rode a motorbike! Sorry Mumma Gavs- and I can imagine Ellen (and Elaine) having a heart attack) from Hoi An to Hue over the Hai Van Pass...

The bike was a far better mode of transport to the sleeper bus!

Cruising through Halong Bay admiring the limestone islands....

"Buy somethinnnngggg?"

Meeting up with Dan and Eleanor for a day of sightseeing and a night of tour in Hanoi...

Just chilling

MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to James and Danielle, on both getting 1sts!!!! The true Brains of Britain as Grandma Gavaghan would say :-)

We have now arrived in India, and so far we can say...its different!!

xxxxxxx