Vietnam - Nha Trang - Boat Trip, Towers and Big Buddha

To get to the coast from Ho Chi Minh, we embarked on our first train ride in Vietnam. There were six of us in each carriage, and it was quite squashed and dirty. It was no different to other trains I have been on in Europe when I interrailed a few years ago. It wasn't until I ventured out to the bar carriage at the end that I realised we really had nothing to complain about. We were staying in relative luxury compared to most people on the train. It was packed due to lunar year, and moving around was like an obstacle course. People were everywhere, on chairs and mats in the corridors, whole families in cupboards, children under the beds and seats. Any available space was taken by bodies. I didn't complain in the first instance, but I made sure I didn't complain at all after that.

Arriving into Nha Trang, we were told it was like the Cannes of Vietnam. In all honesty, after spending some time on the stunning island paradise in Cambodia, this place is no way near as beautiful. It was also packed with people on their holidays, and so I did not enjoy the crowds and lines.

A group of us went on an island tour, where we were the only white people. Our guide on the boat spoke first in Vietnamese and then in English, although he never seemed to really give us all the information. It turned out that all along he had been making fun of us. I guess this made me more skeptical and I began to not have a good time.

All the beaches were crowded too, and we had to pay to actually get on the islands. This was something we were only told after we got on the boat, so thankfully we had brought enough money.

As it was New Year, and the guide's birthday, they got some make shift instruments out and sang a few songs. This is where they again tried to humiliate our group. I just wanted to get back into the sea or to another beach before the other boats did.

They then decided to tie up three boats together and put a floating ring in the middle. They encouraged the passengers to jump in and get a free shot of rice wine. We were all keen for this, and headed straight to the top of the boat. Even the two oldest on the tour were keen to jump in. When a 74 year old and someone who has had two hip replacements jumps in, as a 25 year old, I had absolutely no excuse not to. It was quite exhilarating, and a few of the group did it multiple times. What was nice was the fact we all encouraged each other to go in, and we all did. What made it awkward was the fact we were the only people jumping with the exception of the english speaking Vietnamese, while the rest of the passengers stayed put and took photos of us coming out of the water. I felt very uncomfortable after this, and didn't jump again.

Later on that evening, myself, Catherine and Cheryl decided to see a few of the main attractions Nha Trang has to offer. First we went to the Po Nagar Cham Towers.

There didn't seem to be any information available, but I guess the best thing about this place was the views it had of Nha Trang.

Inside all the towers were rooms of worship. I loved how colourful this room was.

Not too far away from here is the Long Son Pagoda, with the Giant White Buddha. Watching sunset at the towers, we quickly got a taxi over to the Pagoda.

I was initially shocked to see the swastika, but remembered that the Germans had adopted this as their symbol a long time after it had been designed.

The actual Buddha itself was magnificent, and I'm glad we saw it at night. It really made an impact on the night sky.

That evening we went to the night market, but I managed not to buy anything. It was quite crowded too. One storeskeeper liked my height, as I helped her reach some bags Cheryl wanted to have a look at.

The next day myself, Kim, Catherine and Cheryl went to the mud baths. This was my first experience of the baths, and I don't have any pictures from this. The mud was green and we had three different treatments in our own private baths. The girls really enjoyed it, but as with most spa treatments, I find it difficult to relax, so for me it was not as enjoyable. The power jets were quite cool.

To top it all off, Scotland lost to Ireland in the six nations. I could have done with missing out Nha Trang all together. Oh well...