From Ho Chi Minh City

Ok still trying to catch up. From HCMC I road down to Ben Tre, which was an interesting ride, mostly on main highways with lots of traffic. They have drink stops normally with hammocks all the way down which where lovely to stop and rest from the heat, noise and traffic. You can even get a "massage" with your orange juice, if you are in full bike kit and sweating like a barstard every time you stop.
  The bridge crossings further down are interesting too as the locals stop on the top of the bridge to look at the Delta, and of course anywhere that people stop there are people selling things like drinks, smokes and food. I can just imagine parking at the apex of the Sydney harbour bridge (these where bigger bridges) hopping off the bike and walking around taking photos. Then having street salers rocking up to sell me a beer, so kicking back for a while watching the ships sail past.
  It took about 4hrs to do the  120km to Ben Tre where i stayed at the third hotel which was fairly flash for $15US a night

  The day I arrived in Ben Tre was fine but the next day it was raining so instead of carring on down to Vinh Long i stayed and did a boat cruise on the Delta. Which was brilliant because of the rain i think. Well waiting for the tour bus to arrive I watched a local man fishing using bush bee lava as bait

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went to a brick factory as part of the tour

Very green system they use, making the bricks from clay and using rice husks to temper the clay. They burn in the furnace for about 20 days. Then we went to a cocanut orchard and had some cocanut candy

 

  Yeah ok they are all pictures of rivers and rain but a cocanut orchard looks like any other orchard

  but with cocanut trees. To get there we got a ride in a ute bus style verhical and did a paddle along a narrower section of the river, from there back to Ben Tre. Thenext day rode around to Vinh Long thinking of staying in a homestay there, but I got there at 10am so thought bugger it and went for Rach Gia instead.
  Crossing more bridges with people saling stuff on them.

Was a great ride with narrow roads similar to the table lands above Cairns for size but a cannal on one side and rice paddies on the other meaning atleast a meter drop on each size of the road. Riding in the dirt when truck cars etc come from both front or behind, they are allowed to go 10km/h faster than bikes.

  Stayed 1 night in Rach Gia where i watch the Vietnam Indonesia soccer game and had lovely clams

  Then court the ferry over to Phu Quoc, where i went diving which you've seen the photos for. I alos went to a lovely waterfall where a man (Craig) was meditating. The water was nice and cool after swiming in the ocean which was 28 degrees.

  The sunsets where very enjoyable as well. The roads aren't so great there though because the aren't finished

  The worst part about Phu Quoc is that it is very coupley, this one resturant had the honeymooners table which was next to the water on it's own. Sickning but true

  I did get a photo of my fourth hotel but not the fifth.

   On the 24th I went back to Rach Gia,

Then up to Vinh Long for the 25th, where the christcians where lighting up the place, and the homestay hotel six was great..

   It also had a beautiful table and cheers each made from one peace of wood.

 

On the way back up to HCMC I found out that i had gone the slowest way out of the city, but then the quicker way was mainly motorway and it could also have to do with the fact i was getting use to the traffic.

Once back I got the bike seviced and went to the Museum and Zoo well waiting not a nice zoo but very big lillie leafs. The bunny rabbit was alive in the snake cagebut i guess pithons don't eat dead food.

 There was a food festival on for the xmas new year period. The states even had there country represented.

The last bit to of the catchup on photos is a very happy dog going for a ride

  Man that was a bit long hopefully I don't get behind like this again.