Bus to Ho Chi Minh City

We are woken by the town alarm clock at 5am - words and music from Tannoys cranked up to 11 in the street outside our window. The breakfast that we ordered last night is cooked somewhere down the street and delivered to us in the hotel on cling film wrapped plates.
A 7 hour long bus ride brings us to Ho Chi Minh City with only a couple of breaks. The first was when we took a ferry across the Mekong, apparently it is Intrepid's policy that its clients must not be on the bus on the ferry and must wear lifejackets, so 100 metres from the dock we all got off the bus, collected our fluorescent orange lifejackets and walked onto the ferry. And wow did we shine! We did the reverse once we were across. Needless to say we were the only passengers on the ferry who did this. The second stop was for lunch just before we joined the motorway. The Mekong Rest Stop, a large, stylish outdoor diner, that could have been a 'Vietnam Experience' themed restaurant in the US.
It was interesting observing the traffic en route, similar driving behaviour to the rest of SE Asia but much busier. The apparent anarchy gives rise to an unfamiliar attitude from drivers - it is our road, not mine which leads to negotiation and compromise rather than aggression and 'get out of my way'. The constant tooting on the horn is also more of an 'I'm here' message. Nerve wracking and exhausting for all that - even to watch.
Our hotel, Asia Rose 4, is the most upmarket of the trip, almost luxurious. We go out for a stroll, practising crossing the roads - keep walking, don't hesitate and the traffic will drive around you - and make it safely to a bar. Here we meet an Australian woman who lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City and loves it. We also see a small troupe of youngsters in bright costumes, dancing, drumming making their way down the street, reminiscent of trick or treating.
Later we go out for our final group dinner and then on to a bar for cocktails. Tomorrow 5 of the group depart and 3 of us join up with another 8 for the second leg of the trip. We'll also meet a new leader instead of Bun who will be taking a new group back to Bangkok. We'll miss them all, it's been a good group, gelling well despite the age difference.