Hello , Dear Phuong,
We have just arrived home in Australia today (Tuesday).
Sorry we did not speak with you again yesterday, we were just very busy with packing to come home and doing our last shopping at the Market in Saigon.
I was unwell on Sunday nite with a stomach virus, so did not sleep a lot, and was very tired on Monday.
We found a small French Bakery and Coffee shop just close to Lavender Hotel , with Croissants and very good Expresso coffee , this made us very happy; especially Ron!
The girls (Maria & Vera) spent too much money on Bags and Sunglasses at the market; but only after they had looked at EVERY Bag & Sunglass shop in the market! while Ron and I wait for them.
Phuong, we have had a wonderful holiday and a very memorable experience . We believe we've seen Vietnam at just the right time for us because we think it will change a lot in coming years (soon). Not every where , but in some places too much, like Danang and Hoi An for instance. (this will only be for Golfers and fat Americans on the beach I think maybe, with too many huge hotels)
Phu Quoc was a really beautiful place to rest and enjoy ourselves before starting the final part of our journey into Cambodia.
Cambodia
was an amazing place with things still to discover (yes we will be going back!). The guide you organized there , Mr Sothea is a wonderful & honest young man (like you) who works very hard and is very proud of his country.
He has an amazing knowledge and true passion for the preservation of the Temples and surrounding area of Ankor city (plus for Cambodian history). He is a very valuable person to know. We had a very good relationship with Sothea.
Mr Giang ( "Yang"), in Saigon also was a great contact and knew much about the Mekong , because it is his home province. This helped us greatly to understand the history , both good history and not so good history!
We appreciate very much having the personal guides and all the transfers organised ; They were all great people and did their job very well and always on time .
The resorts/hotels you chose were all number one (especially Pho Quoc!). Here we also discovered Sao Beach ,by motor bike with a local guide to help us.
This beach was very beautiful and very quiet (not yet fully discovered).
The only problem for Phu Quoc is the rubbish that comes to the beach from the hundreds of fishing boats and floating fishing villages. It washes up each nite and in the morning onto the beach and the Resorts have to clean it up every day. On Sao Beach it is not cleaned up all the time (this is a shame).
Phu Quoc needs to do something about this if they want more tourists to enjoy the island , especially Australians who would find this disappointing.
We saw the new site for International Airport being cleared and ready to build so they do expect more people to come .
We think "breakfast" at Lavender is only thing that was found a little dissapointing (anyway we found French Bakery in same street, so all good for us).
Thank you for trusting us to continue our holiday after Hoi An and pay you later at Saigon.
We have had a fantastic time with the Veitnamese & Cambodian , people , food and culture.
Your experience and organisation helped make this possible for us and we thank you deeply from our hearts.
Best wishes,
Ric & Maria Brown and Ron & Vera Toniolo.
