Monday 31 August

Today we were on a mission to try and complete our purchases in case tomorrow is our GnR (Giving and Receiving ceremony). I went swimming and then after breakfast, which is really good here, a great selection: fresh fruit, cereals, hams, cheeses, breads various sorts and jams, juices, danishes, croissants and then you have a selection of hot foods to choose from, eggs and bacon, beans, omelettes - any type you want, eggs benedict, in fact eggs any way you like. Tea and coffee - all of this is in your bed and breakfast rate. You can stock up for the day and you don't need to eat until supper - well I don't, Dennis can't quite manage it the odd cake/dessert keeps slipping in!

We finally headed off after chatting to a couple who are going home tomorrow, their family now complete.

Today was no different, extremely hot and humid. We went and arranged for a couple of photos to be printed off and then, very importantly, got some money. We decided to get a taxi from the hotel to the Vietnamese quilt shop. This shop sells quilts of all different shapes and sizes, cushion covers, decorations, table runners, pillow cases etc. It was founded in 2001 and is an income generation project that offers income and employment for rural women which enable these women to remain in their communities and care for their children and families. We purchased a quilt, play mat and some Christmas decorations and arranged for them to be shipped home. They are beautiful.

Next stop was the teddy bear shop - we failed totally here - one for another day.

Bookshop was next on the agenda. We went to the popular bookshop by the Water Puppet Theatre, however the book we were specifically looking for was not there. We walked along Hoan Kiem Lake to the street where we purchased our gifts for the orphanage and in the shop where we found the colouring books, we found the book that we were looking for. It is a book in both Vietnamese and English about the ethnic people that our son comes from. There are 54 tribes that contribute to the make up of Vietnam.

Then we walked back to the hotel, very, very slowly. On our return there was a message from Miss Quy, our GnR is to be on Thursday. We have to be in reception, ready to leave at 6.00am with everything that we need. At least now we know, just 2 more days to wait. Wednesday is the National Day and will be a bank holiday so maybe that has something to do with the choice of date, maybe not!

After a bit of Googling we found the teddy bear shop so at least now we can go there tomorrow and tick that off our list of things to do. Slowly but surely we are getting there.

We are going to go to another Vietnamese restaurant this evening and will report back tomorrow.