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So we arrive in Vietnam and it takes us 2 hours to get through the border control. This seems to be the shape of things to come. Saigon seems so busy and crossing the street is a challenge. We're told by a local to just walk slowly and let the bikes and cars avoid you. If need be you just put your hand up and the cars will stop. Otherwise you'd wait for hours to get across. We get a top floor room with a balcony overlooking the backpacker district. Class views to watch the crazy traffic below.

Saigon and Nha Trang

Gareth Penpraze
2007-04-20 22:59:01

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The beach is only 5 minutes walk so we spend the day lazying about the beach. You can get anything you want on the beach. Seafood cooked infront of you, drinks, bracelets and necklaces, snorkles, books, paintings, you name it they have it. We decide to do a tour to some islands the next day taking in Monkey Island on the way. The beaches are amazing on the islands with all sorts of wildlife caged up - Ostriches, deer, parrots, elephants and of course the monkeys. I'm a little worried about getting a scratch or something from the monkey's - guaranteed rabies!! We finish off watching a show where the monkeys are all suited up doing handstands, lifting weights, walking tightropes blindfolded. I just wonder how much punishment they have been through to learn and do the tricks. Check out the video up top.

We just spend the next day on the beach again. By this time we know all the sellers by name. There's a group that do paraglyding but aren't busy at all. So one of the sellers asks if we want a go, first for $6 and I say no, then they offer $3 (usually $20). So why not I think. Its absolutely amazing. He took me out over the ocean and back along the beach and you can see the whole way over the city, at one point I thought I was going to land on a German couple that were on the tour the day before and then one of sellers. I didn't realise after I'd have to start selling the paraglyding to others on the beach but for full price. It seemed to work though and the guys were really happy not to mention the huge smile on my face as well.

Next stop Hoi An, the cheapest clothes making town on Earth!!

So we arrive in Vietnam and it takes us 2 hours to get through the border control. This seems to be the shape of things to come. Saigon seems so busy and crossing the street is a challenge. We're told by a local to just walk slowly and let the bikes and cars avoid you. If need be you ...