The Mekong, Vietnam and Saigon

Having purchased tickets for an air conditioned speedboat that could take us to Chau Doc in Vietnam in four hours then a bus to Saigon an extra five hours we set off at 07:30 and arrive at the port in Pnom Penh to find we have a slow boat without aircon !!
The journey to the Cambodian border is not as we had expected, very little river activity and to be honest a bit boring.

After 8 hours on the boat we arrive in Vietnam at Chau Doc a bustling hub of activity.

Apparently the eyes painted on the fishing boats are to search for fish


We had been told by a French guy on the boat that if we thought Cambodia was mad then Vietnam would certainly top that.
We board the bus to Saigon and find that Vietnam has a special bus lane on its roads, so cars, trucks and motorbikes all drive on the right and express buses drive on what we in the UK call the middle of the road.
Our journey finally comes to an end in Saigon at 10pm, though not before our taxi to the hotel is side swiped at a junction.


Next morning and we’re off to check out Saigon, we decide to walk and try and take in as much as possible of the chaos.

09:18 and it’s hot already

It has peaceful spots too though

A quick look round the re-unification palace which is a bit dull.

 And the war remnants museum with a whole section devoted to the war crimes of the Vietnam war, it is very gruesome and shows the sickening inhumane deeds of man against man.
The museum is full of bits of weaponry and hardware left behind by the Americans.

But this was by far their most prized exhibit.

 A walk back to the hotel and we,re back in Paris as we pass the Notre dame cathedral.

 Once back at the hotel and we raid the mini-bar to find this little gem,

 “green grass jelly drink” those are the bits of jelly floating in the glass, it tastes as the name describes it and it’s quickly despatched into the toilet.

here's the view from our bedroom window