Chau Doc, Vietnam, 07 April 2008

Our group left Ho Chi Minh city early for our 7 hour drive south to Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta. I think distance wise we didn't actually go that far but due to the road conditions we had a very long trip. Well, I say road, but really it was more like a collection of oversized potholes!

The road really was a mess. It looked like the whole thing was under construction but I didn't see a single road worker. It was the bumpiest bus ride I have ever had.

We stopped off for lunch at a Vietnamese cafe and found some interesting things on the menu, they had rat, snake, frog & pig uterus among other things! I just stuck with chicken noddles, I may get more adventurous later.

Arrived in Chau Doc in the afternoon and went out to explore the markets. An interesting array of sights and smells! They sold everything you could imagine. We kept walking past some form of vegetable that gave off a terrible stench, I stared well clear of that one! Saw live chickens being sold and fresh frog meat.

The three single girls - Jade, Sarah & I are switching around rooms during the trip so sometimes I get my own room which is nice.

The kids in Vietnam love us! They always run out and wave at us and say hello - the only english most of them know although we get the odd 'what is your name'. The best I've had so far is a 'how are you' and my reply of 'good, how are you' and their very rehearsed 'fine, thank you' in reply. The kids really are gorgeous. There was one kid in the market who was about 1 who was so cute and came around and shook/held each of our hands. He would have followed us all round the market if his older brother had let him.