Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

We left the hussle and bussle of Bangkok for Vietnam on the 27th February. Vietnam is a country I have longed to visit for a long, long time. When I backpacked around the world in (gulp, was it really that long ago!) 1994/5 it had just opened up to tourism, but I didnt have much money at the end of my travels so I stayed in Thailand and was living comfortably as only a backpacker knows how in my beach hut for around five pounds a day!!!!

We then booked to go after Terry's sisters wedding in Hong Kong but a few weeks before travel there was the SARS outbreak and we couldnt travel :( So finally we have made it!

Hubby booked a cheap budget airline ( equiv to our easy jet! ) from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City! I asked him the weight allowance and he didnt know and yes it was only 15 k! With my clothes and Isabella's ( plus books, pull ups and toys!) my case was 20 K and so was hubbys so we had to pay baggage excess, which lucky wasnt too much!!!!!!

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh city to rain! at 5.30 pm!, but it soon stopped. By the time we got to our hotel it was quite late so just checked in, booked a cab for our tour the next day and had dinner at the hotel which was fantastic. Then it was time to bath Isabella and put her to bed! She was sleeping with us in our double bed, but we soon discovered this was not a good idea as she thought it was playtime! But eventually went to sleep!

Day 2 we got up, had breakfast and had our own taxi for the morning to take us to the famous Cu Chi tunnels about 1 1/2 hours outside of the city ( worked out far cheaper than a tour!). It is an amazing place to visit. Terry and I could just about squeeze into a tunnel opening that had not been widened! Terry is not large and is around 75 kgs and I am a size 8-10 Uk ( 4-6 US) and could just about squeeze my hips in!.

We also went underground into a widened tunnel. Isabella did well until I tried to get her to stand and walk ( I was bent over! and it was only then did she get scared and cried! So I carried her ) not easy! And we got out at the first exit after 20 kms. We have some really good pictures but the lousy hotel computer wont allow me to upload! So I will do this hopefully in Hanoi or when I get home. We spent the afternoon visiting the centre of Ho Chi Minh City and its amazing buildings left over from the period of French colony and had dinner in town.

Day three of Vietnam we left Ho Chi Minh for our flight to Dangang where we then travelled to Hoi An and are staying at Hoi An beach! Isabella is having a fantastic time and I will blog more soon with some pictures!