In the bus for 12 hours. Why do they play this loud karaoke if nobody ever joins in? Ow they had a Cambodian version of Blade (the movie), very funny in this language. In the morning I almost missed the bus, because my pickup (moto), the guy was sleeping. But I found the bus myself. In Phnom Penh I had to change busses, verybody send you somewhere else, but after some walking and without showing any tickets I was in a bus to Ho Chi Minh, don't know if it was the right one :-) I had to fill in all paperwork for the border and show them my Vietnam visa. And this was the first bus that used his claxon constantly...damn, earplugs are great.

The bordercrossing was a big contrast compared to the trip in Cambodia. Last ten days I've only seen beggars and many poorness. I crossed the border in the Las Vegas of Cambodia! Huge casino's and big hotels. Limousines and lot's of bling bling. Very strange to leave Cambodia like this. After several checks at the Vietnamese border (3 passport checks, baggage check etc.) I finally was in Vietnam. It still looks a little bit like a communist country.

Around 20:30 I arrived in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, the main backpacker area. And yes, this city is fantastic. People told me stories about the crazy traffic and the 16 million motorbikes in this city. It was kind of busy, but I loved it. Crossing the street was no problem, just walk and the moto's wo't hit you.

Finding accomodation was a little bit harder. Cheap places were fully booked so I shared a room with Thomas, an Argentinan that I met in the bus. Many hotels in this area, on the main streets but also in the small alleys that look like a labyrinth. Paid 16 USD for a room, but what a nice shower after all these months. We had a small beef BBQ, but it's impossible for me to eat with this pain.