Vung Tau

Earlyish sees us hot footing it through the streets of Saigon in search of the hydrofoil to Vung Tau. It's the pricey option but road traffic through Saigon is so slow! The hydrofoil really shifts and by 10.15am we're there.

Vung Tau is a strange place, it reminds me of Bournemouth in January. A lovely sea breeze makes it seem a little cooler. It is made up of two areas, Front Beach and Back Beach, we are staying in Back Beach as it is cheaper. Our hotel even manages a sea view and we take up residence on the balcony for a little bit of relaxation and some backgammon. A search for lunch doesn't turn up much and we discover that everything is in Front Beach or in the town which is a couple of kilometres walk away - so off we go.

It is Australia Day so we head to Ned Kelly's Bar to join what we hope are going to be quite raucous celebrations.  It's a girly bar and the celebrations are fairly low key. Anyway we get some beers and take up residence on the pool table.  Thankfully, the girlies are on my side and clap every ball I pot and, on one occasion, even tell Adrian he has taken on woman and woman is best. Even with the home crowd support I manage to lose 3-0 sorry girls!

When we get back to Back Beach it has awakened somewhat and there are several little food stalls selling sea food and as many little stalls selling shell mobiles and bits of jewellery - they all sell the same things which is very odd but it's nice to look and we're not hassled.

Unbelievably after our moans about Saigon and how busy it was on waking we are resolute to leave this place is too quiet.. We get on the first bus we see, tell them where we want to go and after much thinking and conversation between driver and ticket man they say we're okay.  Six hours, another bus and a minibus later we arrive in Da  Lat.