#DayTwoOfTheTour

Luckily, all was not lost with the tour, we ended up staying in a really nice home stay. To get there, we hopped on a small speed boat and wizzed down the river, as the sun went down dragonflies dashed in and out of the water causing tiny ripples on the smooth surface. We were fed a meal of traditional food, rice paper to make spring rolls and then a really tasty green beans and beef dish. I shared a room with Maartje and we got a double bed each, the only downside being how hot it was in the room.

In the morning we were fed a basic breakfast of eggs and baguette and then headed off on the boat to see the floating market. My expectation of these came from the glossy brochures where dozens of little boats sit on the river full of tropical fruits and fish and all things weird and wonderful, I was looking forward to it. Drip. Drip. Drip.
It began to drizzle, then rain, then POUR! They docked us at a local cafe which is basically a deck with some fruit on the side and they can make and bring you coffee. A Vietnamese karaoke channel was on and Maartje and I tried to sing the foreign words.

Eventually we were picked up by the bigger boat and taken to the market; it was still raining. Every

single boat was covered in waterproof material, there were only a handful even on the river. I felt so disappointed! This time it wasn't the tours fault but still, I had hoped this would make up for the shopping trip yesterday (I realise typing that how ironic it is that I was upset about not seeing a market but it's different!)

We stopped at an indoor market selling the same crap that we had been subjected to the previous day. Then we went to see how the rice noodles are made. It was interesting to see the process and they even let us have a go at some of the things. I rolled a sheet out to dry and shredded some noodles. Again though, this was ten minutes, the other twenty was for us to look around, you guessed it, the shop!
"YAY! Another shop! I shouted." To make it slightly less painful Maartje and I had a competition to see who could find the most hideous item. One of the New Zealand ladies was our judge. I was sure my hideous bag would win but instead she decided that it could actually be a little niche and kitsch. I bet Maartje paid her off!

We sailed on to a fruit orchard, it was actually really pretty and there wasn't too much for sale apart from fruit. We slipped on the muddy floor as we made our way between the rows of fruit trees. To our great relief, the tour was finished! Just the long drive back to the hostel. My friend Lina from Sandbar in Dee Why was in Ho Chi Min so she joined me while I waited for my train to De Nang. She caught me up on Sand Bar's dramas, not much as changed from the sound of it! Probably all falling apart since I've left!

Not too long later, I had boarded my 17hour train to De Nang. It was actually really cosy and the gentle rocking of the train sent me into a very satisfying sleep.