On the way to Phu Quoc Island.

It took us fourteen hours, traveling by train, bus and taxi to get to the heart and soul of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho. We'd just eaten and were walking the river promenade back to our hotel to catch up on some sleep when I heard a pair of hellos coming from behind.I knew it was someone wanting to sell us a boat trip to the floating markets. They're the main attraction in Can Tho, the delta's largest city. As I turned, a smiling man with four or so fro...

We booked a berth on the seven o'clock, night train out of Nha Trang, for Saigon. When we arrived at the station I noticed the words Blue Line, written on the sides of the cars, as though they meant something special. When we climbed aboard, they were. Cleaner bedding; lighting that worked and beautiful fakewood paneling awaited us. There was a television and even a phone, should we need to order a pizza or something.The cabin looked like it would be ours al...

 Nha Trang is one of those home-away-from-home places. If you keep your mind on all the new Western friends you're sure to meet here, you can almost avoid the Vietnamese people altogether. It's a place where you can say you've been to a foreign country and have the passport stamp to prove it. Where in just about any restaurant or bar you can listen to the the likes of Marley, Morrison and Dylan. Over and over and over.There's a Novotel and a Sher...

   The Hoang Yen is a several star hotel that sits directly on the beach in the city of Quy Nhon. Ellen and I thought we'd treat ourselves after battling the tailors of Hoi An. I was nervous when we walked up to the front desk in this classy looking establishment. I hadn't shaved in a week and probably smelled a bit too. The hotel receptionist couldn't speak a word of English; when she showed us the per night rate of 500,000 dong I almost flipped. ...