Hi all, I am currently hanging out in another countries forum (reading only) in an incredibly luxurious hotel (that I got at a super super discount thanks to advice on T.A) and enjoying the pleasure of drinking water straight from a tap. We left Vietnam on the 28th and were very pleased with all we did and saw for a first trip. I am also delighted to announce that we all avoided any tummy bugs by drinking bottled water (la Vie is our brand!), avoiding salad and using alcohol gel prior to eating. Saigon was the first city we arrived at in Vietnam and it was such a pleasure to walk through the airport gate and see our name on a pickup board (which my wonderful travel agent from Aurora arranged). Saigon was oppressively hot even at 8 pm but we were soon off racing through traffic. I have to say that any reservations that others voiced re: taking my children to Vietnam were quickly quelled by the reality. Children are an asset in Vietnam. As I have found travelling in many parts of the world having children with you seems to break down local reservations and people just want to talk with you (even the French - another story). The eight and six year old daughters were treated as minor celebrities wherever they went and were given small presents and discounts that were unasked for (in a poor country like Vietnam!!). Many of the woman seemed to be saying similar (positive sounding) phrases about them which I helpfully interpreted as "look at those pretty girls with their BEAUTIFUL mother!!!) The six year old is the more outgoing of the two and took the attention in her stride - even the random kisses on cheeks from woman (I had forwarned them and we had practiced basic Vietnamese phrases to delight the listeners) and my shy eight year old quietly confessed that she was rather enjoying all the attention. I was secretly concerned that I may not enjoy Vietnam (having read some frank commentary on T.A) but have to say I was enchanted with my first gimpses of Saigon. Even the crossing of the traffic was fine as long as I trusted in the ability of the drivers to dodge around me and resisted my urge to freeze. In fact my husband loved crossing the traffic in Vietnam - he uses a similar technique in Brisbane all the time. Our first night was spent on the ninth (non-smoking) floor of the Duxton hotel - a hotel that was more expensive than the one I had unsuccessfully tried to get into (the Windsor plaza) but the central location was fabulous. We three girls shared a queen size bed (sleeping accross the bed) and the tall husband got a single. On the 9th floor the traffic noise was barely heard although a number of early mornings did reveal the sound of another travellor vomitting (justifying my almost obsessive use of alcohol gel!!). We enjoyed bargaining in Ben Thanh market and found their sellers a lot more flexible than later in Hanoi. Anyway, that's all for tonight - it is late and the bed beckons (320-thread count Egyptian cotton!). Will post more on Saigon later. Thanks to all who replied to my last post - looking forward to reading your experiences.