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Hey people, so we've had a very exciting couple of weeks traveling through Vietnam to the South. Its gone way too quickly though and we definitly wish we'd had more time to spend in the places we have visited, as well as more time to visit others areas. Vietnam is amazing and as you would expect full of so much history.
From Hanoi, where we left you last, we took a 14 hour sleeper bus journey overnight to Hue. The sleeper bus is an experience in itself and we have just about got used to them after three journeys! Its like a big bus with three rows of bunk beds throughout. The beds are definitely made for the shorter Vietnamese and we were pretty glad that you weren't allowed to use the toilet on the 2nd and 3rd trip - as the smell on the first bus from the toilet was pretty hideous. It took us awhile to recover the next day because you don't get much sleep. Its a pretty bumpy ride with the big humps and pot holes in the roads. Add a crazy Vietnamese driver and you begin to fear for your life (don't panic Mothers, no more left).
Our first stop was Hue, where it consistently rained. But being British, we braved the weather and did a motorbike tour around the city. We visited the Citadel (no not Cathedral Thorne family.. its not my spelling), a few Pagodas (one in which we stood watching the monks pray, which was so good), Tu Duc Tomb, a hill where we could see Hamburger Hill from and a war bunker and finally a Japanese Bridge. The best bit for both of us was the ride on the back of the bikes through the paddy fields, in the rain, watching all the farmers. At one point a heard of water buffalo were being rounded up along the other side of the river. We both felt like we were in another world.
The following day we did a day trip from Hue to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). It was hell of a lot of traveling, but well worth it to see the bits we did. We drove through the DMZ where most of the fighting took place. Our guide was really good so we learnt lots. We visited the Vinh Moc Tunnels and went 23m underground to where 93 people lived for 5-6years during the war. We saw 'The Rockpile', which was a big mountain used by the US army. Finally we went to visited the Khe Sanh Combat base, where the Americans were based and the most famous siege and controversial battle took place. The museum here was small but interesting and it was nice to see it completely from the Vietnamese point of view for once!!
We then headed to Hoi An. Its a lovely little village by a river, with cute little buildings and cafes. Looking back, it may have been sensible to skip Hoi An, not because we didn't like it, because it is famous for its tailors! Many trousers, jeans (sorry rents... more jeans), shoes, boots, bags, coats and tops later... we left Hoi An (oh and once Sam's food poisoning past)
Then we went to Nha Trang, which is more of a beach resort. We spent our first day lazing on the beach, which was lovely, topping up our tans. On our second day we went diving in the morning. Its was great to be diving, but the visibility wasn't great and there wasn't a great deal to see. But we met a lovely South African couple and a guy from Preston who we ended up going out with in the evening. We went to a nice seafood restaurant, a nice bar and then the sailing club, where Sam has been devastated from ever since. When we arrived we found out that the top gear guys had been filming in the club about an hour before we arrived - as they are doing a race through Vietnam... we even saw photographic proof from people... gutted.
On the second day in Nha Trang, Clare suffered with a hangover (her turn). So we decided to take it easy again and went to 'Thap Ba Hot Spring'. We went for a bud bath, then into a jet spray tunnel, then into a 40 degree bath of mineral water (bit too hut in the heat). Very relaxing and great for the skin. We just wish they had a cold plunge pool too!
So now we are in Saigon, or otherwise known as Ho Chi Minh City. We arrived at 6am and this afternoon went on a little tour on a cyclo (the cyclists tried to stich us up by doubling the price at the end, but as usual we had none of it and said ' take this.. or nothing'). We visited another Pagoda, the Reunification Palace and the War Museum. The War Museum is pretty upsetting as you can imagine. Its got graphic photos everywhere and an area describing the torture that happened to individuals. It has an area of photos of victims of agent orange and even a preserved (in a jar) deformed baby with two heads, again of course from the affects of agent orange. We have learnt so much about the war in the last two weeks, but the museum is definitely a strong eye opener to what this country suffered and of course increases your hate for America!!!
Tomorrow we are off to the Chu Chi tunnels, similar to the ones we visited in Hue, but we get to have a go at firing a machine gun!! Then Friday, sadly, it is time to leave Vietnam, to spend 6 nights in Kuala Lumpar..... until then.......
lots of love x x x x x
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