We are at the hai van pass as featured on top gear  it’s really steep, narrow with sharp hair pin bends and the clouds are lower than the top of the mountains. There is very little traffic control so a little bit scary but beautiful. At the top we saw a bunker used by the Americans in the war width lots of bullet marks. Dave went inside the bunker and was surprised that anyone could stay in there at all especially not for long periods of time like they had to. All the Vietnamese people are friendly and always smiling. Things are very cheap but touristy. There are trains taking passengers from the north to the south of Vietnam they are small and the tracks run at the end of small front gardens and across roads but do not have barriers or No warnings. They go from one stop to the next only  and then back again so if you want to go on a long journey it takes a very long time because you have to get on and off at every station to change trains So a long journey could take for ever.

We have now arrived at hue(pronounced hway) and are staying in a villa type very Vietnamese hotel which is used to train young people to work in hotels and restaurants. They are third year students and overseen all the time so the service is perfect.. Our suite is huge and there were lovely orchids and fresh fruit in the room and before bed they came and turned down the covers and placed chicks And little hand made biscuits each side of the bed. Ahhhhhh!

This afternoon we went to have a look around and had a boat ride in a dragon boat across the perfume river to a local market. Dave’s tummy keeps being patted by smiling Vietnamese who call him happy Buddha   The market was really hectic And we were the only white people there a lady hounded us to look at her stall where she sells silk pajamas and I thought it would be nice to get some for the girls. She took us into a labyrinth of tiny alley ways between stalls PC,ex to the rafters with goods. If the boat lady was no with us we would never have found our way out. All the people were trying to take us to their stalls and calling out to us. I was a tiny bit scared as you can imagine but we made it out in the end but sadly without the pj’s. Perhaps I will try a shop next time. Looking back it was fun though  after that I went to a spa ( small shop with one bed and a box of nail polish!) and had hands and feet done and foot leg and arm massage. Very nice

The chef came to discuss dinner choices with us personally describing all the ingredients and flavours and after questioning us on our tastes created the most wonderful meal, we had a prawn and mango etc etc stater and a chicken roulade stuffed with? With a sauce and bachoy etc delicious and one of the best meals ever. Oh and the bar manager was teaching the staff about cocktails and asked if we would mind sampling for free – what a question – I am no 4 and not had desert yet. Lovelyeee surprise desserts are on the way I a told!!! I may never leave ha ha