The last day of our Vietnam holiday was uncomfortably hot, and we had "free time" to spend before our overnight flight home to Australia. Our guide Thuong suggested he take us on a trip by public bus out to the Water Gardens, and being assured that the bus was air-conditioned and the gardens cool, we agreed. The bus was O.K., the gardens were slightly cooler and quiet by Saigon standards. A lot of walking. Recommended, but I believe it often gets crowded and noisy with hordes of children. The conditions for the monkeys and elephants are depressing, for the animals even more than for the visitors, but the birds do better, and the orchids better still.