Nam Vet's

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Hi Guys.

We have reached our last stop in Nam! To be fair the last 3 weeks has flown. We have now taken the open bus all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon. On the way we've stopped at Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and briefly Mui Ne.

First stop was Hue (pronounced whoway). After 12 hours on the NON sleeping bus from Ninh Binh we arrived early morning, checked in and were straight out taking in the local sights. We spent hours in the Citadel. The Citadel is a huge area of Hue surrounded by over 10k of 2m thick walls and has some breathtaking scenary. The afternoon was spent cruising the Perfume River along where you will find various Temple's, Pagoda's and little Fishing village's. I hasten to add this was all done in what must of been over 35 degrees of heat!

After a good nights rest and a little worse from the previous days temperatures, whoops!, we spent our second day a little more slow paced. That afternoon we took in the first beach of our travels!!

Next was a charming little place called Hoi An. It is full of tailor's, hotels, tailors, restaurants and more tailors! They even make shoes!!! During our stay we saw the famous Japanese bridge and spent a day in nearby Danang visiting Marble Mountain.

Nha Trang was the first real tourist resort type place and is a wash with hotels, bars and restaurants. Its main attraction is its huge beach. Whilst here we visited a local spa and had a mud bath and then bathed in the local hot springs. Shear heaven! We also took a cable car to an americanised island called Vinpearl. It plays host to a theme park, a waterpark and an underwater world. We were like big kids!

Mui Ne is a small beach resort. It has one long strip of hotels and eaterie's all along what many say is the best beach in Vietnam. We only had the afternoon/evening here before taking the 1am (more like 2am!)bus to HCMC.

We've had an action packed couple of days here. Yesterday we visited The Christina Noble Foundation. This has been T's dream for the past 7 years since reading Christina's autobiography 'Bridge Across My Sorrows' and the sole reason she wanted to come to Vietnam. It was an amazing sight.

The HCMC part of her huge foundation consists of, amongst many other things, a medical centre and school for the street kids of HCMC. It was a heartwarming and very emotional visit. It was lovely to see so many happy smiling kids. Check out her website she's doing so much! They were also very grateful for the toothbrushes and toothpastes.Thanks everyone.

Day 2 was spent at the Mekong Delta. We took a boat around the many islands/ provinces and saw how they make coconut candy, listened to traditional vietnamese music and visited a bee farm. Today before our flight out of Nam we managed to visit the Cu Chi tunnels.

These were fascinating to see tiny tunnels that travel underground for 100's of kilometres and during the American war this is where the Mekong Guerilla's hid from the yanks. These tunnels are tiny yet during war time they contained a kitchen, a dinning room, a hospital and much more including an exit tunnel straight into the Saigon River. The tunnels were constructed when the French invaded during the 1940's and were finished in time for the American war. They were less than 10kms away from the American's base yet were totally self contained and self sufficient so the Yanks were none the wiser!

We are now in possibly one of the worlds greatest airports, Changi Airport Singapore waiting for our connecting flight to Melbourne.

Speak soon from down under. Keep safe and love to all.xxxxxxxx

P.s Will upload the photos asap.

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Comments

[Lisa, mike and boys]

Hey both!!
Hey both, where's the last lot of Nam pics? we've been checking the site regular but still no sign. Hows Oz? Michael says 'Steve Everton looks like they've given up the ghost, the only way into europe will be a holiday to spain now for moyes's men'. Michael is now officailly a golf fanatic, he has been playing every other sunday down the Park golf club in Coedkernew with Brin and his brother, he looks forward to you joining them for a foursome that is for a game of golf by the way lol. Surely you must be missing the creature comforts of home and a good game of bowling on the wii. Not long now guys and you will be home before you no it. Remember we will be in spain til the 22nd but don't worry we will phone you to make sure you are home safe. The boys send there love to you, they have been as good as gold. Cameron is still the cutest kid on earth and Ashton is still pulling all the ladies with his curls he should be in the pears adverts apparently lol. he get so much attension. Keep in touch. xxxxxx