Moving up Vietnam, Mui Ne and Nha Trang

Met another English couple while out for beer with Lawrence. Watched the Man U game and spoke to an expat who had set up a cafe in Dalat. Spoke to him about living in Vietnam, deciding on the spot that I'm going to set up a Backpackers somewhere. Not in Vietnam, apparently - but it will be called "sofasogood backpackers" - also he assured us the tourist industry will be running over TET. And so Kae and I confidently got the extortionate 'open tour bus' the next morning to the kite surfing mecca Mui Ne.

Mui Ne - not much to say about it apart from meeting a charismatic couple, Steve and Harmen, who have been travelling the world for we guess just over 20 years. They invited us to join them on a day trip to the 'Fairy Stream', and some large sand dunes in an old American army jeep. Walking down the Fairy Stream was the highlight; a shallow sandy river banked by colourful, earthy cliffs and foliage that led to a waterfall, which we cooled off in before being splashed by local hoodlums.
We hired a plastic sheet to slide down the sand dunes on, which was good fun, but I don't think it'll catch on!

We found some great places to eat along the shore, and had scallops with garlic and spring onions at a bargain $1. One lunchtime we were given some free sweets and nuts by the owner for TET, and then offered some duck, the same duck that Steve was told not to take photos of, it being part of a religious offering (we think). Anyway, the duck looked very old, dry and grey and so we made our apologies and escaped quickly.

We left Mui Ne after 2 nights. I would have loved to go kite surfing, but was shooed away by the cost - $350 for a day! On our last evening meal we found out that a little flirting will reduce the price to about $40, which I will remember for next time.

Next stop, Nha Trang - Vietnam's dive centre. I've found a reasonably priced PADI course for $220, which is run by 70 year old French diver 'Seawolf'. Might go and sign up now.