After breakfast 6 of us, led by Hui (Tuan’s son) set off on bikes for the Chocolate plantation. Down the decidedly rough road, past local shops and houses, towards one of the Mekong river’s many tributaries where we waited for the ferry to make its return journey. Bikes, scooters and people all piled aboard for the five minute journey … 1000 dong for foot passengers (50 cents); 2000 dong for bikes; 3000 for scooters. Even though we were jammed in like sardines, the scooter drivers were very considerate, and careful not to crowd us. Off the other side, it was a short journey to the plantation. This was the first…

Arriving at 5 am, I think we can get away with saying that! Uneventful flight. Vietjet is definitely a budget affair. Good job we’d purchased a couple of Ban Mi sandwiches at the airport because food on board was nowhere to be found – despite announcements to the contrary … and the complementary beverage cart went by at light speed … blink and it was gone! No matter … we actually managed to doze a little. Our driver was waiting outside at column 10 – signage for Glen Smith in hand – and we entered what appears to be the utter chaos that is early morning Ho Chi Minh City.…