Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

We are here!! Arrived after a long flight pretty knackered as landed at 7.30am local time effectively missing a nights sleep.

First reflections of HCMC are very good - really nice city, clean, safe, more modern than we were expecting, pretty cool vibe to the place, motor bikes absolutely everywhere - including pavements and going the wrong way down one way streets (As experienced when I was nearly knocked over by a baby on the handlebars of one) and the people are absolutely lovely - so friendly. 

Visited the War Remnants Museum which was pretty harrowing. It was a pretty one sided view (against the US) and they didn't hold any punches in showing some horrific pictures of the war. The effects of Agent Orange and the descriptions of torture in the 'Tigers Cage' that would make even Jack Bauer's eyes water will definitely linger long in the memory.  

Met a new friend! God knows how this old chap carries this around all day selling fresh coconut milk. I struggled holding it for this picture and he was half my size!!

Visited the market that is like the Tesco of Saigon - sells everything!  Very much like the bazaar in Istanbul.

Postcard poses...

Also experienced a couple of firsts.

1) Listening to a band play classic 80s soft rock in front of two giant Elephants and a rotating crown at the rooftop bar at the Rex Hotel

2) Singing Eric Clapton Wonderful Tonight in a back street Vietnamese Kareoke bar where quote "you are the first non locals to ever come in here!". Good times already.