Vietnam

15/05 Starbucks breakfast then picked up for a memorable (for all the wrong reasons) 3 hour tour of Saigon. They dropped us off at independence palace after 5 mins and left us to go around on our own, make our own way to Notre Dame and Central Post Office, both of which you couldn't go in. We ended up at McDonalds - happy meal for the girls. Saigon seems a great city, though not sure we'd want to spend much time there with the kids. We got picked up from the famous landmark McDonalds only to be taken to the war Remembrance Museum which was closed for 2 hours. Shells tried to find out their personal take on the war. Or their parents experience but they weren't very forthcoming. Probably the worst 'tour' ever!! They wanted to charge us $40 despite it being only $10 to the airport!! They were pretty good though and took our feedback on board. Had frog porridge at airport, very tasty. Shells had

beef. Flight delayed so got to Osaka Villa at 7.30pm and had dinner with KG. Wonderful, family room for the price about £30pn. Very luxurious, 5*! Great to see KG again and hear all their news.

16/05 Morning by the pool, so lovely. The hotel is like a 5* boutique hotel, situated in the the countryside, amongst paddy fields and fishing lakes, feels surreal to be here. Great breakfast, fruit, eggs, bacon, toast, tea/coffee, juice. The staff are so personable and lovely, they can’t do enough for us. Pete took bike into edge of town for pharmacy and ATM. E had chewing gum for first time. All cycled to an bang beach and had lunch at soul kitchen. Tried cau lau for first time, basically a big soup with pork and veg - yum. Weather not good very

windy, feels cool for first time in months. Taxi into old town, old town was disappointing, hordes of tourists. Dinner at Fusion – it was ok. Walked around night market then drinks at Belle Vue, great singer /guitarist on – the girls were fascinated.

17/05 C better but now Shells has bad tummy. E and Pete went to spa on bikes for manicure and pedicure. Decided to stay two more nights here and shift hostel later, it’s too nice. Cycled the scenic route to town. Fabulous cycling through paddy fields and lakes, lots of little paths and no traffic – heavenly. Dinner at Baby Mustard. Mustard, as Roger would say. Delicious food, best yet in Vietnam probably. Met JJ from the house opposite the hotel, from Melbourne. She discouraged us from moving to the hostel. Early night.

18/05 Cycled into old town and visited the Japanese bridge and the two old assembly halls. Stopped for a drink and noodles for the girls by the river. KG bumped into us and had a beer. Dinner at Hoi An social club – not great food. Met Juergen from Estonia and his two children, who now live here. KG stayed up all night to watch the Liverpool Seville game.

WEEK 34

19/05 Got taken to beach in the US army jeep! Lunch and chill out at La Plage, it’s the closest we’ve felt to being in Palolem. Girls played for ages in their Vietnamese hats. Feel very blessed to be able to spend all this time with them. Went to

mini fairground at 5pm, it was basic and ‘rides’ were 20p a pop but girls absolutely loved and had Banh Mi street food. KG didn't leave their room all day hahah. Early night having snacks at hotel. Pete finished reading Nothing to Envy, a book about real stories from North Korea, fascinating and tragic. Finished Business for Punks last week. Long time since he read a book.

20/05 Back down to La Plage again, but on the bikes. Girls can’t get enough of the Calamari – they won’t have anything else! KG came down. Massive downpour, bizarre seeing rain – felt so alien to us after such a dry stretch. Did fairground and Banh Mi and early night again – beautiful sunset coming back. Decided to stay at Osaka Villas – we love it and the hostel

didn’t work out any cheaper – bizarre. We’ve had our fill of slumming it and are going to make the most of this luxury.

21/05 KG, Pete and E did canoe along river. Very tough against the wind and currents. Clo was adamant she didn’t want to go so Shells and took her on bike to Dingo Delhi, lovely time, reading books, provided by the restaurant. All met for late lunch at Dingo Delhi, girls love the great playground area. Went out for drinks in old town, reminded us of Benidorm, or somewhere equally as tacky, far too crowded.

22/05 Chilled am with E and C playing hairdressers and nit inspectors on us, v funny, cute and relaxing. C wants to open a bakery apparently, lots of fun discussing what exactly she’s going to sell and how we’ll be roped in to help out – but we will get a 50% discount hahahah. Previously it was a shop, selling everything. Hung out at Dingo Deli all day. KG lent us the new Star Wars, The Force Awakens in the eve, fab film. It was the National Assembly election today. 70m people voted for the 14th five year assembly.

23/05 Finally got iPad screen repaired and iPhone for £20 each. Hung out at La Plage, girls loving, beach and sea –

2 lots of Calamari (yes please four). Dinner at hotel and early night.

24/05 Mister bean fest on the morning then bikes to dingo for lunch and met KG at beach later. Dinner at baby mustard, mustard! E wet the bed, yikes!

25/05 Went to beach (again). Met Vinnie and Poppy from Derby on a gap year, really nice couple. Heavy storm came and we got soaked in bikes. Very special evening, Staff at hotel laid on a BBQ for us all as a thank you for staying so long. Tu and Tinh, the chef and owner with us. Sooooo much food, loads of seafood and chicken. Little Elle got stuck in as always. Gav got the chef got drunk. Bless him he had red wine all down his whites. Wonderful, memorable, evening. Thank you Osaka

Villas for this memory!

WEEK 35

26/05 Lazy day by pool chatting to Vinnie and Poppy. More storms so watched movies in room on afternoon. Took Thu and her husband Chom out for dinner to Le Hmong sisters French place on the beach. Another great eve.

27/05 Said goodbye to all at the hotel early morning with a heavy heart. We’ve had a fantastic time in Hoi An. KG got up too. Girls were hysterical – yikes! They soon got over it though as were on to our final destination, Honk Kong.