A short hour later, we arrive at our destination and the heat is already beginning to take effect. After dumping our bags at the hotel and getting refreshed, we head off to lunch at "Pho 2000". The restaurant is close to the Ben Thanh Markets and was visited by Bill Clinton some time ago - the evidence is a large photo of the ex-president himself and the entire staff. After some Pho, we head off on a Cyclo Tour. The tour is good fun and it takes us to the Reunification Palace, the French inspired Notre Dame and GPO and the war remnants museum.
The war remnants museum is a confronting reminder of the effects of the Vietnam War - a war which locals refer to appropriately as the American War. There were photos which displayed various villages being destroyed by American bombings, soldiers being tortured and the effects of the use of the dangerous 'Agent Orange'. Chinh explains that the museum should be seen as a reminder of the tragedies of the war, and not a means of placing blame on any of the parties involved.
After the museum, we return to the hotel for a break before heading out for dinner, again near the markets. After dinner, we visit the night market and the group begins to practice our haggling skills.
The next morning, it is the start of the last day of the Vietnam leg of our tour. We arise for breakfast and then jump on a bus bound for the Mekong Delta. We meet up with our local guide and explore a range of activities which the area is famous for. This starts with a brick making factory, before hopping onto a boat and traveling down the Mekong on a boat to a salt refinery, and a home which made coconut flavoured sweets.
We get off our boats and walk a short distance to another home which makes mats out of dried banana leaves. Here, we also sample some of the local fruit - pomelo, pineapple and mini bananas, known to Singaporeans as the Pisang Rajah. After this, we jump onto little motorized vehicles, possibly the regions answer to Thailand's Tuk Tuk and travel to the local home stay. Here, we have lunch. The specialty is the Elephant Ear Fish. Hardly anywhere near as disgusting as it sounds, it's a delicious fish which is named because it looks like an elephant's ear when it swims in the water.
After a quick rest at the hotel, we head out for our final dinner as a team with our team leader, Chinh. It's a nice place in the backpacker district. We eat and then Tim makes a short speech on behalf of the team to thank Chinh. Everyone agrees that Chinh has done an amazing job taking the group around and we are ever so grateful. If only we could also take him on the next leg of the tour.
After dinner, the boys head to the restaurant next to the hotel for final drinks while the ladies head to Ben Thanh market for more shopping. This is then I shop big for souveniors.
On the way back, I stop for drinks with Chinh before saying a final goodbye and heading up for some well earned sleep - ready for a day tour of the Cu Chi tunnels tomorrow morning.
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