Not sure why we chose Vietnam for our next big trip. It was going to be Japan but Tim is going for the rugby later this year and finding a country he hasn’t been to is rare so we settled on Vietnam. Mostly I think it was because Sam said it was cool and who’s to argue with that?

As usual I was freaking about the flight for weeks in advance. 12 hours in the air – that’s just not right. I inhaled enough wine and watched a bit of Mamma Mia to make it almost bearable and Tim was happy with the hot towel supply so we survived the journey and landed early this morning in Ho Chi Min.

First thing that hits you is the heat. Then the mopeds. Not literally. In a city of 13 million people there are 8 million bikes. Sometimes 4 on one bike with toddlers standing happily with no more protection than their parents arms to keep them safe.

Lovely hotel in the centre with a roof top pool. We probably won’t actually get in the pool but it looks nice in pictures. Insta friendly.

Pho for breakfast and a nap, then our guide Kim took us to the presidential palace in the afternoon. It has a 60s vibe. Imagine communism meets the Thunderbirds and you get the image. All the decor is planned to reflect mood and power. Red for luck, yellow for happiness, green for tranquility and dragons for power. Kim is bemused that we mostly dress in black. If Lady Penelope had a bunker it would be pink…

I didn’t want to do to do the war remnants museum but Kim insisted. It’s mostly a photographic depiction of what happened. Graphic images of the war but also the aftermath, particularly the devastating affect of agent orange on the country. It’s painful, but as Kim says, it’s the past but we have to learn from our past and move on. She says the Vietnamese people want us to acknowledge the millions that died and those that still suffer, but also realise that they are a nation building to the future.

The Americans left a lot of planes behind.

So then on to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office, both French buildings that managed to surviving the bombings. They are understandably proud as there are so few old buildings in Ho Chi Min, but it’s not quite Paris.

That’s Mr Ho Chi Min himself sitting on Tim’s head.

Rejected the potential excitement of a tour of a lacquer factory to watch the sunset on the hotel roof. Apparently we’ve landed in Ibiza.

Then dinner nearby at Nha hang ngon. Forgive my pronunciation. There were literally 5 million dishes to choose from. I’m only exaggerating a tiny bit. Anyway we had pho and morning glory and spring rolls. Have to say that the food here is rather sublime and so healthy, although I suspect I’ll be craving chips and creme eggs before we get to Hanoi. And before you start, yes, on the same plate.

Back to the rooftop and then bed – busy day tomorrow. No doubt noodles will be involved….