The tour guide is at our hotel early, but we must wait for two on-time participants. We circle town picking-up customers until the van is full. We and a young German couple are the only non-Asians.
At the dock we see the multitude of other vans and buses of people all going to much the destination. Before we leave the dock, the leader gives us numbers in a buddy system - so we don’t leave anybody behind. He uses it faithfully all day. I’m pleased to see this in action.
Our first stop is the snorkelling beach, Mun Island, where there is still a coral reef. Not for long I would predict with the numbers of people scuba-diving and touching the stuff. While I am floating around and enjoying the numbers of colourful fish, I see an instructor with a guy who can hardly swim wearing scuba gear floundering around by the coral. At least they are not too deep.
The second stop is at Mot Island, moored to a concrete dock with three other boats from the same company and a fourth - a booze-cruise filled with rather drunk young people. They are almost finished, thank goodness, as their tour guide is belting out modern songs off key. Lucky them. Once our rice and Vietnamese food buffet is completed (the benches were folded into one long buffet table and covered with a decorative tablecloth), a few benches are returned, but a stage area is kept at one end. The drummer, guitarist, and singers are part of the crew, and they are very talented. They entertain us with songs from each different country represented on the boat - a Neil Young one for Canada! - in the country’s language. They end with a couple of Vietnamese songs. The guy dancing on the stage can’t find a partner from the ladies in the crowd, so Peter volunteers me. What fun! 
Once the entertainment is complete, it is time for the swim-up bar. The tree boats have been tied in a “U” shape, so the bar is a raft with one of the crew in the centre with three bottles of wine and lots of little, plastic glasses. In order to get a wine, you must get into the water and swim to the raft, When the Korean guy we have been talking with strips down to his bathing suit and jumps in, I decide it is okay for me. At this point, there re only about three people in the water. I dive in and get my wine. Actually, there is a hunk of pineapple in the cup, so each serving is quite small - it is more for the fun. There are lots of life-buoys for those who don’t swim too well, and, eventually, all the wine is gone and its time to move on. One lady remarks to Peter that I am “lively”. I hope that is a compliment.
The next stop is at The Stone Beach, a luxurious resort with a fabulous double-kidney shaped pool and a beach in a quiet cove with talcum-powder sand. I don’t know where they hid the stones! We spend over an hour here and I have both an ocean and a pool swim. This would be a great R & R place. Even with kids as they have a creative play area.
The next stop, about half way back to town, is an aquarium. All we can say is the $2.50 each it cost to enter is a donation to the local village on the island. Very tacky.
On the way across the bay we get a closer look at the world’s longest over-water cable-car. It goes from town to the amusement area, Vinpearl.
Peter and I are both tired when we are returned to the hotel, but we change and walk back to the Backpacker’s district for a final meal in Nga Trang. Tonight we settle for Italian and each have a pizza that is quite tasty - Peter has pepperoni and bacon while I have a four cheese, yes, with bleu cheese.
Our time here has been lovely. As usual, we have the sad feeling of leaving a place just when you know your way around and the anxious feeling of opening a present of a new place which is strange.
Note: Vietnam, when a car signals to turn or to back-up, the car plays a song instead of just beeping. We have heard, It’s a New World After All and Happy Birthday, so far.
Peter and I are both tired when we are returned to the hotel, but we change and walk back to the Backpacker’s district for a final meal in Nga Trang. Tonight we settle for Italian and each have a pizza that is quite tasty - Peter has pepperoni and bacon while I have a four cheese, yes, with bleu cheese.
Our time here has been lovely. As usual, we have the sad feeling of leaving a place just when you know your way around and the anxious feeling of opening a present of a new place which is strange.
Note: Vietnam, when a car signals to turn or to back-up, the car plays a song instead of just beeping. We have heard, It’s a New World After All and Happy Birthday, so far.
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