Vietnam Adventure: Hoi An 2

Wednesday, 13 March 2013 at 10:51 Hoi An..

Morning boat trip to two viliages producing pottery and wooden carvings. Meet 90 year old woman still spinning pots. Buy table thingy for holding dips. The wood carving is unbelievable....see a guy making mother of pearl inlays on all manner of things....apparently he's world famous. We buy chopsticks and three wooden hangings with Happiness, Wealth and Longevity symbols....trouble is, they weigh about three tons and are sitting in my back pack......

Finish the morning with Man taking a few of us to a cheap backstreet restaurant for lunch. We choose famous rice noodle dish..only in Hoi An. Great! Sue has a swim in the afternoon and we explore the small town in the evening, having drink and great meal. George calls back while I am jn the middle of the road surrouned by motorbikes but I survive....getting the hang if staying alive here. Good day..time to pack..again!

NB We both feel that we are getting a feel for the gentle Vietnamese....and we really like these people and their country....more in Vietnam summary.

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Vietnam Adventure: Hoi An

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 08:03 Travelling to Hoi An..

Coach journey 4 hours inc stop but, as ever, interesting talks from Man (really) the guide and utterly engaging views...people, houses, scenery. Coffee stop at a high mountain lakeside cafe and also stop at high point on mountain pass before reaching Da Nang and see relics of the 'American' war.

Da Nang being rapidly developed for mass luxury tourism trade....still a bit like a building site. SAGA now using one of the hotels...will need to watch that lot at night. Casino only for tourists as nationals not allowed to gamble...Removing money from rich tourists in this way must seem like a good strategy to the administration though. Visit Champa museum and learn more about these Hindu people and the battles for southern Vietnam. Begin to better understand the history behind the range of religions in Vietnam. .....

Enter Hoi An after 4 hours or so and immediately visit textile factory....see silk manufacture from silk worms through to garments...and it's fascinsting. Try on shirt and get hard sell but all good fun. Also visit old house and Budhist temple.

Hotel great and impressed by Hoi An...looking forward to tomorrow.

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