There is a lovely cafe at one end of the Hoakiem lake where you can buy both Vietnamese dishes as well as western treats like banana splits and a cup of coffee.You can sit watching the gentle folk of the city walk arm in arm around the lake whilst being soothed by the colourful lights that illuminate the lake.

What makes it a little surreal is that they play christmas music at this time of year, but no ordinary christmas selection it’s some colliary band playing our old favourites. They occasionally get a little saucy and add a jazz tone or two into the mix – the first time I went in there it was a collection from the Buddha bar that accompanied my iced coffee. I love that kind of thing.