Ho Chi Minh City - Sunday 15 October 2017

Breakfast in hotel and then walked close by to Goc Ha Noi. I wanted to introduce the family to egg coffee...











Then we walked to War Remnants Museum and had a look. Then to Reunification Palace which had a lot of history and was an interesting building.

War Remnants Museum...

Reunification Palace...

The kids were not particularly interested...

Then found lunch nearby and back to hotel for a swim. Said our goodbyes to Jacqui and Alex who are staying to do a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Got car to airport at 4pm. Easy check in and immigration. Flight slightly delayed due to a typhoon in HK but made it back okay. Taxi home. Bed just after midnight.

Ho Chi Minh City - Saturday 14 October 2017

Today we are going to Vung Tau, a beachside town about 90 minutes by fast ferry.

Had breakfast in hotel and then went out for a coffee. Vietnamese coffee is great - very strong and sweet.

Then back to hotel to get a taxi to the river and then boat up the river. It was a longer trip than the advertised 90 minutes. I was disappointed in the town. Although it was Saturday, there were hardly any people around and most restaurants were closed.







Had lunch and walked along the sea. Beach was not particularly nice, but I had a swim.



A bit random...

Stayed a few hours and caught ferry back to Saigon. Got a Grab back to our hotel which was easy. I didn't want to have to explain to a taxi where we were going.

Then went to an outdoor BBQ restaurant which was great. cook your own food. Everything very cheap here. We were joined by Callum's friend Isaac who recently moved here from HK.

Walked back to hotel and later Jacqui and I went to Chill Rooftop Bar which I wanted to try. But we weren't dressed well enough to get in. So we walked down Bui Vien Street which is crazy and found a rooftop bar and had a drink.

Back to hotel about 1am.

Ho Chi Minh City - Friday 13 October 2017

This weekend we are going to Saigon, to meet Alex who is flying in from Sydney.

Eliza, Callum and I caught an early flight on Cathay and Jacqui caught one on Vietnam Airlines, as she is not flying back to HK with us.

Arrived and got Visa On Arrival no problem. Car met us and took us to hotel.

Like Hanoi, motorcycles everywhere...





Had a swim and something to eat, and then walked around the city. That's Bitexco Tower with the viewing platform...tallest building...

Weird...

Stopped for a coffee...

Chaotic...

Lots of French colonial architecture. This is City Hall...

Funny name for a hotel...

Opera House...

The Post Office...

Notre Dame Cathedral...they were a French colony after all...

Beer by the hotel pool A$0.87 ! And I got a 2nd one for free !

Had an early dinner at Ben Thanh market.

Had a quick nap and a walk around our area which is very vibrant - near the back-packing area.

Waited up for Alex who landed at 0030. Unfortunately there was some confusion with her pick-up, so I caught a taxi to the airport to get her.

Bed about 3am !

London - Monday 2 October 2017

My last  day in London today !

Checked out of hotel and went to Tower Hill tube where we met Jacqui and Eliza. Had a quick breakfast at Pret-A-Manger and then bought tickets to the Tower of London. I had done this in 1986 but every trip since, I just walk around the building which I love.

Did a walking tour and looked around. After we walked over Tower Bridge and then had lunch at a pub on Southbank.

We then walked over Millennium Bridge to St Paul's and then back down Fleet St to my hotel to pick up our bags.

I caught the tube to Paddington and then the Paddington Express to Heathrow.

Checked in and went to the Cathay Lounge. I had a long wait for my flight at 2230.

View from Tower Hill tube...

Dragon - not sure why...