$5, 1 Hour, Very cheap, Where you from? Manchester United?

Our last day in Hue and despite phenomenal heat, I dragged the family off to the Ancient Citadel. After all, isn't that the point of visiting Hue? Its all ancient buildings and pagodas and so far the family had managed to avoid any historical buildings. Sweating and moaning I managed to get them in the ancient palace whereby Matt and Olivia lay flat out on the tiled floor. There were loads of tourists there on guided trips who looked on enviously!!

We didn't really like Hue very much. It was essentially flattened in the war apart from the Citadel. The rest was rebuilt in the 60's and it feels a bit like a Milton keynes! Also I think the heat really hit us and it has taken a couple of days to adjust.

Everywhere you turn in Hue someone is hot on your heels trying to get you to go on a cyclo. They are like bees round a honey pot. Emma has got a very cross vietnamese 'NO' off pat now and seems to be able to frighten them off!

We arrived in Hoi An at lunch time today (34'c) and found a nice hotel with a pool where the chldren have spent most of the day.

Hoi An is completely different to both Hue and Hanoi. The guide books say its 'living history' and I guess you can imagine an old port in times gone by. Its another world heritage site. Crumpled old fading buildings strung along the coast. Its full of tourists and silk shops and I have promised to take the girls shopping. Its much smaller and quieter and cleaner than Hanoi!

David has finally plucked up courage to try the dog kebabs!! while Matt is living on banana juice. The fruit juice drinks here are amazing and only 30p a glass for fresh pineaple, banana or mango.

Some factoids I have found interesting:

The vietnamese go out of their way to avoid the sun - they love pale skin so they wear these face masks (also against pollution) and even in this heat they wear long polyester gloves to cover their arms.

They are only allowed to have 2 children - hence the constant comments I get:'3 children - 2 girl, 1 boy , very lucky'

The high school uniform are these long white trouser/dress things.

They wear white and have white flowers for funerals and red flowers for weddings.

The average national wage is GBP 500 yet they have to pay to send their children to school!

Open heart surgery at Hue Hospital would cost you GBP 700!!!

When they die they can bury their dead anywhere!!There are tombs all over the fields!!!