Vietnam - Hue, Hoi An & Mui Ne

Apologies that there has been no communication for a number of days. We spent 3 nights in Hue, & then moved on to Hoi An where we planned to spend 4 nights before travelling down the coast via the beaches to Ho Chi Minh City. We received news whilst in Hoi An that my mother had had a serious fall & for a number of days was in a critical state in hospital, so we delayed our plans to remain in Hoi An for an additional 4 days, to be able to have access to reasonable internet & have contact with family, & also to have access to flights if need be, as there was an aiport close by at Danang. The good news is it appears Mum is over the worst & her health has stabilised & so we have moved on the Ho Chi Minh City in order to catch up on our schedule as we need to leave Vietnam in a few days with our visa expiring. With all that has been going on, we've had not time to update the blog (uploading pictures takes forever), but will attempt to do if & when get the time in the next 5 days. Depending on weather we make take the opportunity to back track & head to one local beach area at Mui Ne for a few days before coming back & crossing the border in to Cambodia.

Good health Mum & hope you recover soon. Thinking of you all these miles away.



Unable to upload more photos at at this time as unable to find a computer to open the main photo file on the camera. Internet in Vietnam is a nightmare!!!! Have managed to now upload some but de to the fact we are trying to do this from Cambodia, am unable to add much text.

HUE: spent 3 days in Hue. Got my camera repaired, so when visited the Citadel, with the Imperial Palace & the Fobiden City was unable to take photos that day, but didn't matter as there was little left tanding after the Americans had destroyed most of it in the war. Day two we did we hired a motorbike and explored the surrounding area, which included a large war cemetary, some kings' tombs. Met an interesting local who told us stuff about the war & showed us Hamburger Hill where some of the most intense fighting took place. Day three we just wandered and did a boat trip.

Hoi An: spent 8 days here. Prime activity was shopping and having some tailored clothes made, plus shoes & hadbags for Gill. Joined by Steve & Caroline so much time spent eating & drinking & enjoying the views on the riverside. Did do tours to Marble Mountain (local tourist post of limesone islands inland, not sure of the connection to Marble)& My Son (ancient Cham temples). Broke a tooth in Hoi An & how to endure 1 & 1/2 of dentist treatment with no injections, as also needed a filling.

From Hoi An we moved on to Ho Chi Minh City for 1 night, before moving on again to Mui Ne, a beach resort north up the coast. Spent 3 days here enjoying the a nice brand new hotel with swimming pool close to the beach. Also hired a bike to explore the surrounding countryside & see the white, red & yellow dunes.

Travelled back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon of the 17th