Hello from your three little Miss Saigons!

Arrived safely in Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon and are currently happy and settled in a hostel at a slightly steeper price of $18 a night (although we did turn down rooms at $20, $26 and $30, go us!)
Got the bus from Phnom Penh this morning and waved a sad goodbye to Cambodia, possibly never to return. The journey was spent in relative luxury, the bus was half empty, air conditioned and we were provided with bottle water, an onboard toilet, two stops and a nice cold face towel. This is the life!
Journey lasted about six hours including the border crossing, where everything was stress free and easy, unlike our entry to Cambodia. It didnt run so smoothly for all aboard our bus though. When we boarded the bus in Phnom Penh, officials checked our passports and visas and two girls from Iceland were asked to get off the bus as they hadnt obtained a visa for Vietnam. The official explained that they could use their ticket for the next bus and get their visas in Phnom Penh, but they insisted that Iceland is a country excepted from the visa regulations and can cross the border at will. As they refused to get off the bus, we began our journey. At the border however, the Vietnamese took one look at their empty passports and told them where to go, i.e. straight back to Cambodia!!! Silly girls, should have contacted the embassy first :) Now, esteemed parents and friends, aren't you glad we are such well prepared and savvy travellers? No worrying "im stuck at the border" fonecalls for you!
Anyway, we drove into Saigon and were very impressed with the clean streets, slightly manic traffic and wide open parks. We've only been here a few hours, but we remain impressed. People do aerobics in the park together after work, or play badminton or volleyball. Every bar has 'happy hour' and unlike Cambodia (which we still love) we are not a sideshow at the circus to be gawked at and prodded.
We went for dinner in a very lovely open air restaurant, had a cocktail...or six...and tried to ignore the fact that our chicken stir fry was a tad undercooked/still squawking and had to be sent back to the kitchen. Then we wandered around some souvenir shops, tempting the dong in large amounts from our wallets, and a local tailors, where the clothes are to die for in beautiful fabrics and a real steal. Ish.
We intend to wander about more tomorrow and soak up the city, being pleasantly free to do so, with no pressing sights to see and then we'll plan our assault on Vietnam's beaches! Hope everyone is well, and enjoying a delightfully dreary Tuesday at the office. Sorry, it had to be done.
Love, the girls xxx