They were not lying when they said that Ho Chi Minh is a lively and bustling city. It is the most bizarre city, a mixture of very poor and wealthy, very cheap and expensive shops and restaurants. We could not decide whether we loved or loathed the place. But it was certainly a worthwhile experience.

The first night was spent at a neat little hotel in what looked like a very run-down area of the city. Our first meal was at a street-side restaurant, were we shared a large plate of some seafood and noodles and had our first Tiger beer.

Monday morning we met Ricky Marsh - a friend from Stellies - and explored the city for a decent breakfast spot. This took almost 3 hours (we're useless on deciding on where to have our meals). It was an incredibly balmy day. And the city was as alive as ever. Ricky taught us that the only way to cross a street in Vietnam was to not care, look straight ahead, and simply march on. He was right of course - the scooters simply maneuver around you! Luckily the roads are mostly inhabited by motorbicycles; a car or bus is not likely to move around you.

That evening Ricky showed us a small but well-kept restaurant that sells very cheap beer (about R4 for one). We spent hours there just catching up and watching the city life. After an interesting supper of duck and veggies, we headed off to our hostel.

Vietnam Inn Saigon is really a youth hostel, filled with student travelers and young adults. It's a fun place to stay at, with a rooftop bar and restaurant, a chill area, and 9 stories filled with dorms. We joined the hostel's organized Pub Crawl (without paying of course) that traveled in the immediate area - too much fun!

The next day (this would be Tuesday), we headed off to China Town with Ricky. This is one of the poorest area in Ho Chi Minh - but with the friendliest locals and great food. The streets are lined with shops brimming with odds and ends for sale. It's almost as if one has stumbled into a large scale market of china-style, dirt-cheap shops. There were tupperware, toys, carpets...stacked up to the roofs.

The evening was spent doing basic admin, window shopping, and enjoying the hostel's amenities. We tended to have our meals at the street stalls: you are seated at tiny tables in little chairs, and then given your choice of meal. Delicious.

Wednesday morning we had to say cheers to Ricky. It was rather a sad moment. We very much enjoyed his company - he is such a cheerful, lively guy. And then it was off to My Tho.