March 31/April 1 2012

Yesterday morning we were collected by our guide and drove down to the Mekong Delta. There was just time to say goodbye to the chaotic traffic of Saigon. As I mentioned before, the motorbikes and mopeds are unbelieveable. Here's a snapshot which is absolutely typical. Four on a bike is not unusual and we actually spotted five on one bike (three kids sandwiched by two adults) but they had disappeared into the traffic before I had time to react with my camera.

On the way down to the delta, our guide took us for a quick visit to Saigon's Chinatown (which is huge) and we stopped off for a quick look in a Chinese temple. While there, we indulged in a Chinese tradition of buying an incense coil. For almost no money (about 60p) they give you a piece of red paper with Chinese characters on it which implore the Gods to lok favourably on the people whose names are written on the slip. Jenny added our family names and the paper is then clipped to the coil. She then lit the incense and the coil was suspended from a wire beneath the ceiling of the temple. Apparently, the incense will burn for a week, and then the piece of paper will be burnt in a furnace. The smoke takes the names of the family members up to the Gods!

Jenny prepares the red slip of paper...

...and the coil is added to all the others.

Finally, after a long and bumpy ride, we arrived at the jetty to join our Bassac (rice barge) for a cruise through the Mekong Delta.

Our home for one night, as viewed from the tender which took us out to her.

Our Bassac was a six-cabin version (they do bigger ones, with 12 cabins as well) but there were only three couples (including us) on board last night. The others were Dushan (of Serbian extract) and his wife Victoria, from Sydney, and a young Danish couple called Christian and Sarah. Everybody was good company, the food served on board was delicious, and we enjoyed a good night's kip in a comfortable (if cosy) cabin.

We had not been on board long when we were treated to a tremendous tropical storm. The rain was phenomenal, and one or two thunderclaps were so loud and close that they shook the boat. After the rain cleared, we landed to take a walk round a small village on the riverbank. The people are clearly very poor, but astonishngly cheerful and welcoming. At one house we were all treated to green tea and a selection of local fruits. I know these things are laid on by the tour operators, but it didn't spoil the charm of the occasion.

This morning we left the Bassac at 8.30 and  went on a smaller launch through a local floating market. It was fascinating to see the boats laden with all sorts of local produce.

It's difficult to see in this picture, but they hang examples of the wares they are selling (some kind of fruit in this case) from the masts, so purchasers know which boat to approach!

We were met at about 10am by our driver, who took us back to Saigon airport for the flight to Da Nang. The weather had deteriorated again, which meant a horrible bumpy flight, but it only lasted about 55 minutes. A new guide (a lady called Anh - pronounced Ann) met us at the airport with a new driver and took us to our hotel at Hoi An (about 30 minutes from Da Nang airport). The hotel is called The Nam Hai and it is six star. We can understand why, because it is EASILY the best hotel we have ever stayed in. We have a one-bedroom villa on the beach, and I have attached a photo of the interior of the villa, just to give you an idea. Tomorrow, when we are promised sunshine, I will take more. It really is breathtaking.

The room is on several levels, with a sunken bath in the room, and separate his and hers dressing room, shower and loos. Better pictures to follow.

More tomorrow! Pity we are only here for two nights. Actually, we might decide to stay forever!