SCOOTERS, SNAKES & BOXSETS... BIDDING FAREWELL TO VIETNAM FROM SAIGON

With Hanoi officially taking the top spot on the favourite city since leaving home list, Saigon had alot to live up to. I'm sure the Saigonians would be delighted to hear that Saigon didn't come in too far down the list either.
Saigon is a bigger city than Hanoi and this immediately comes across and, though I never thought it possible, it's even more difficult to cross the street there. We were very close to asking some of the locals to hold our hands. the safe cross code certainly wont save you here!



As is standard throughout most of Vietnam we found ourselves some really great value accommodation run by a very cute older couple who couldn't do enough for us.

Day one saw us chasing world religions again, taking in a Hindu temple, a mosque, and a cathedral in just a few hours. A few Bia Hoi ended up the days proceedings nicely, in the company of Julie and Colin whom we'd bumped into on just about every stop in Vietnam but not really met til now. Some laugh!! The Bia Hoi in Saigon is slightly more expensive than Hanoi but at roughly 18cent a pop we didn't get too upset.







Another day brought us a few hours out of the city to the Mehkong Delta where we visited a coconut candy factory, held a 2 metre python like we'd done it all our lives, drank some rice wine, listened to some rather ear-offensive traditional music, and hopped from boat to boat along the vast network of beautiful canals. Great tour! When it comes to tourism it has to be said the Vietnamese have it down for the most part. They're not a bit shy about charging for it though!
As we have a blog follower who's got a bit of a snake phobia you can see the python pic by just clicking on this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LESPRZEM/SAIGON#5333781665553822258










Much of the remainder of our time we spent on a busy little street called Bien Vu. Shopping, drinking, eating, internet, TV-watching, and reading could all be pursued here with ease. We also partook in the age old tradition of DVD piracy, spending a good deal of our budget on various TV boxsets and movies. We'll be very busy with them when we're back which is probably a good thing since we won't much cash for socialising.





As gorgeous as the coutryside is in Vietnam, I think it's the cities I'll miss the most.