Having been to Vietnam several times before it says a lot for the country that I am AGAIN counting down the sleeps till I get to return to this most beautiful country. Taking an organised tour this time which will be different for me - everything included except drinks - hope it all works out. Roll on 14 November.....
Day 1 - Early start this morning. Head to Saigon from Melbourne, meet other tour members in Saigon. 13 in our group and initial reaction is we have a GOOD MIX OF PEOPLE - should be a good holiday.
Day 2 - See the sights of Saigon today. Its a return to places for me but having a guide gives a different perspective. Heading to Ben Thanh Market - better not spend like I did before - so tempting when our hotel is within walking distance!!!
Day 3 & 4- Head south to Vinh Long and the Mekong Delta. beautiful scenery and got to see some of the small industries in the area - huge ceramic pots (wont fit in my suitcase!) rice paper making, tile making to name a few & then to top it off a COFFIN factory!!!! They were amazing in detail with inlay pearl designs such as dragons etc. Mmmmmmmmmm should I buy one????
Spent the night at a home stay- bit disappointing as I was expecting to be included in meal preparation etc and made to feel part of the family. This was more like a backpackers retreat with 3 massive dormitories and people everywhere.....oh well put it down to experience.
Visit to vietnamese bonsai garden - quite different to what we expected. Bonsai was beautiful but bigger than the traditional japanese bonsai that we are alll used to seeing. Sampan ride along the Mekong complete with conical hat..cant say I looked as elegant as the postcards but it was good fun. All too soon it was back on the bus to Saigon.
Day 5 - Cu Chi Tunnels is on the itinerary today. WOW they blew me away. How on earth anyone managed to live underground for so long leaves me speechless. I managed to stay down there for about 2 minutes before I had to get out - the resilience of the people can only be admired.
We then headed to Tay Ninh and the stunning Cao Dai temple where we were honoured to be part of the midday service. Everything was so colourful - the architecture, the elders gowns and even the gardens outside.
Day 6 - Off to Nha Trang today. short flight and then check in. Oh but the weather is ghastly- blowing a gale so a walk along the waterfront is not so appealing.
Day 7- cruised around the islands off the coast of Nha Trang and visited the Tri Nguyen Aquarium and a local fishing village. Have to admit this is the first time I've had a massage, manicure and pedicure including nail art on a moving boat!!!
Day 8 - I awake with a sense of anticipation...we leave Nha Trang today and head for one of my favourite places Hoi An. Visit Marble Mountain and China Beach on the way. Have to say everytime I step onto China Beach all I can think of is the movie "Good Morning Vietnam"......
Day 9 & 10 Two whole days in beautiful Hoi An. Time to hit the shops and markets - tailor made clothes and handmade shoes are on my list for this trip. Head to my favourite tailor - Yaly- and am welcomed like an old friend. After lots of hugs from the girls its time to introduce my fellow travellers and get down to business. Our guide takes us to the jewellers and lo and behold its where I've been before AND they recognise me!!!! I'm starting to feel like a bit of a celebrity and my fellow tour members look on with delight at the welcome I get.
Visited the usual tourist sights and then on the bus and out to My Son and the Cham ruins. I am quite taken with My Son and as I walk around admiring the beautiful senery I cannot but wonder what the place must have looked like before being bombed. Such terrible destruction leaves me deep in thought about the war and the long term impact.
Day 11- I farewell Hoi An with a promise to myself that I will be back again- it draws me in like a magnet. Head to Hue- the imperial city - lots of citadels, temples and pagodas but do get to ride a dragon boat. Learnt how incence is made and watch with fascination as a lady makes a conical hat.
Day 12- Cruise along the Perfume River....cant say I can work out how it got named as it definately wasn't "perfumed"!!!!! Another plane ride and we reach Hanoi.
Day 13 - See the sights of Hanoi. The ethnology museum is not to be missed. A visit to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum is quite an adventure. Not sure why there are SO many armed guards for one dead man - no disrespect - but it did seem excessive. Mind you "Uncle Ho" is still very much respected by the vietnamese and sometimes it seems he is talked about as if he is still alive.
Day 14- A cyclo ride around the Old Quarter is a great way to start the day. Your senses are assaulted from all sides - smells, sights, sounds- you never know what is around the next corner. Loved the wedding boxes (see my pictures)- how kitch!! An afternoon visit to the Temple of literature and then off to the water puppet show
Day 15- up early and on the bus driving through the red river delta to Halong Bay. At lunchtime we board our Junk and head off to see this world famous area. The beauty and serenity of the area is indescribable and I sit atop our junk and feel like I have gone to heaven. As night descends we get the most magnificent sunset
Day 17- up ealy to catch the sunrise but its not as spectacular as the sunset. as we cruise among the island one of the crew befriends me and we spend the next hour or so teaching each other our respective languages - have to confess her command of the english language was far superior to my command of vietnamese!!!!
All too soon we are back on the bus and heading in to Hanoi. This is where the group splits and for some its farewell as they head back to Australia but for the rest of us its off to the train station to get the overnight train to Sapa.
Day 18 & 19- A very early arrival in Lao Cai and on the bus for then winding road up to Sapa. As the mist lifts we get our first glimpse of the infamous cascading rice terraces. Spend the days trekking to different villages and meeting the minority groups of the area. I even got the chance to join in dancing with the local school children which was delightful.....at the end I was talking to some when I felt little fingers touching my hair to see if it was real....not used to blonde!!!
Day 20- Back to Hanoi on the overnight train and then its time to bid farewell to Vietnam and head to the airport for the flight back to Australia.........

I am left to reflect on 3 wonderful weeks in Vietnam and this only reaffirms my desire to come back again......I have completed my TESOL certificate now so start dreaming .......would I be lucky enough to get the chance to teach in this wonderful country? I think I would like Saigon.....business or medical english are my strengths but hey you only live once so I guess I could prepare myself to teach at any level.............oh well that will be another story...........

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