Haggling in Nam

Bob says: Haggling is part and parcel of travelling in Asia, pretty much everything will require the pre requisit haggle, in fact if you accept the first price without a haggle the seller always looks slightly confused, probably thinking that they have started too low! So to avoid this dissapointment to the seller, I always haggle.
So far the kings of the hard sell have been the veitnamese, the women in particular, their haggle involves acting of the highest order and the full use of the femine wiles, it can be difficult to defeat. Here's a step by step guide:
1) Seller sets the price, you offer 10%
2) Seller responds as though you have just suggested a night of illicit love with an animal (stand firm, many give in straight away)
3) Seller changes tack, touches your arm, smiles and compliments your good looks (a dangerous time for in the haggle, you my fold at this, be strong)
4) Seller now offers 50%, more smiling and batting of eyelids.
(Don't be fooled stick to the 10 %)
5) Instant mood change, seller looking very sad almost crest fallen as if you have just informed her of the collapse of her home (you have come so far, don't fall at the final hurdle)
6) Its time for the No.1 tactic in your haggling armory 'The walk away' (remember do not hesitate the seller can spot your weakness for the haggle like a poker player reading your tells)
7) Seller cries 'why no buy' as if anguished by the death of a loved one, before quickly going down to 20%
8) A quick barter down to 15% if your a real pro, seller makes sale, smiles all around.
9) Walk away happy in the knowledge that you have just saved 50p and prepare to be surrounded by other sellers of street crap that can see you are a soft touch!

Dalat

Bob says: Up in the central highlands is the town of Dalat, one of the premier tourist centres in vietnam, although I am still not sure why. Saying that we had a pleasent walk through the rainforest up the Lain Biang mountains, punctuated by the wife screaming every few minutes at imaginary snakes spiders and other creatures of the forest.
Ruth says: They weren't imaginary. Bob saw a live snake and I saw a dead snake and a rat!

Mui Ne - Other stuff

Bob says: The main attractions around Mui Ne, top - surfing the red sand dunes, centre - red canyon, bottom - the beautiful white sand dunes, like being in the middle of the sahara. No camels though.

We also took part in the most dangerous tourist activity, we hired a motorbike to get to all these places. Mums, you'll be glad to know we survived and it will be the last time......maybe. All Ruth's idea anyway!

Mui Ne

Bob says: Life is hard in Mui Ne, in fact its pretty unbearable. In addition to the sun, sand and sea, we've had to put up with cold beer, cocktails, beautiful food and afternoon napping. A bloody nightmare start to finish!

Mui Ne - Fishing Village

Bob says: Just outside the resort of Mui Ne is this fishing village where there are hundreds of fishing boats moored up during the day, by night they light up the horizon fishing before dropping their catch at the morning fish market and providing me and the wife with some of the finest freshest seafood. A worthy cause!

Ruth says: Mui Ne is also the home of Nam Pla ( the stinky fish sauce that you get in most Thai and Vietnamese cooking). The trays of little fish drying are used for that purpose, and you can imagine what the village smells like....lovely.

Hoi An

Ruth says: Hoi An was a totally cool little place. If it hadn't rained so incessantly (apart from the half day that we were on the beach) it could have got very expensive. In Hoi An there are over 400 tailor's shops. You basically go in there and choose a design from a catalogue or stuff they have in the shop and then choose the fabric, and they make it for you super cheap. They even make shoes. It is great. I beat Bob at pool ( obviously he was only playing one pocket) which meant that I could have, in addition to the two skirts I had already had made , a dress and some shoes. Sadly however the rain made us leave before the purchases could be made, but I think we will definately be going back one day.

Bob says: rain dancing payed off. First decent game of pool ever with the wife. Surprising how good she can be with an incentive.

Ruth says: the town was also really pretty as you can kind of see.

Hue

Bob says: Don't panic. We have not had accidents that have rendered our legs useless, needing the aid of wheelchairs. These are the tuk tuk carriages. One of our cyclists took the photo. Hue did have an interesting historic walled citadel, sadly it was not interesting enough to justify the extortionate entrance fee.