Hoi An is perhaps one of the most beautiful places I have visited, certainly my favourite in Vietnam. They have managed to preserve the historic buildings and this allows the visitor to gain an insight into what life would have been like in the past. It is so picturesque and vibrant, and so I found myself taking an obscene amount of photos, which is why this blog is in two parts.
This is where all the lanterns are made, and there are thousands along the streets. So many colours, shapes and sizes.
We were taken to the tourist information place where we had to buy a pass to allow us to enter into the old city. It seemed only Westerners had to pay this price and were the only people being checked, but as long as I could see the old city I didn't care too much.
Hungry stomachs called for breakfast, and Ha took us for a quick orientation tour.
Straight after breakfast we headed to the tailors. Hoi An is famous for producing high quality made to measure suits and clothing. I wanted to get a blazer for interviews for Sydney, and so Yaly seemed the perfect place to do that. My tailor was called Nicola, although that is her English name. I can't remember her real name, but she was very lovely.
A few of us decided to make use of the pass and visit some of the places on it. This took us up some side streets. It is amazing what you come across when you get away from the main tourist spots!
This was a private memorial to the ancestors of one family. It was very grand, and it turned out the founder of it came from a Naval background.
White Rose is a Hoi An specialty dish - basically shrimp dumplings.
Myself, Angela and Jo decided to go on a boat tour and see some more of the outskirts of the city. We ended up in this fishing port.
This spot is always photographed. It changes throughout the day, and this one is of early evening.
Bale Well was recommended to us via the Lonely Planet, and it did not disappoint! The meat eaters in the group were treated to an amazing feast of spring rolls. The funniest part was the owner and her waitresses who continuously brought out food, and made the rolls for the boys and shoved it in their mouths, despite their protests. The food was so yummy and we all had a fun night with the owner. We eventually convinced her we had eaten far too much and then mango and chocolate pots came out. One of the best meals of the trip!
Part two - Coming soon!
NB - Finding it difficult to get decent wifi and spare time to keep writing my blog, not so easy when I keep travelling! Now I am settling in Sydney so going to make an effort to stay on top of it from now on!
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