Day 9 - Chill day in Hoi An

We explored some of the historical areas in the Old Town, including bridges, temples, wells and old merchant houses. 

Hoi An was the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-sixteenth Century.

It's a UNESCO world heritage site...

...with attractive wooden merchant's houses and pagoda-style temples.

...with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. 

It is also a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the riverside market and cafés. 

Cocobox!

Hot Vietnamese coffee was not quite to my taste (I did like their iced coffee though) and I always made a beeline for european-style latte when possible.

City of lanterns.

Beautifully designed coconut shell bowls.

As we approached Tet (Vietnamese New Year), these yellow (and red) potted trees were sold in their dozens, just like Xmas trees.

In one of the old temples a blue-faced warrior warns modernity not to spend too much time on screens.

Aaaggh...    
                         ...too much time on SCREENS will cause me to SCREAM,

"Beware!!

The ghost of screen-death will visit you. Get back on your steed and see the world!

You have been warned."

Bánh mì refers to a kind of Vietnamese baguette

This small restaurant had big queues and an excellent reputation.

Anthony Bordain commended this establishment for making outstanding Bánh mì 

Vietnamese fast food.

It felt like Xmas in Europe with lots of parties and karaoke a full volume.

Some didn't quite hit the right pitch.

The Hoi An merchant houses could be visited using part of a tourist booklet of five.

The houses reflect the architectural styles of the major trading partners of the time -  China and Japan as well as Vietnam's coloniser, France.

Dim sum

Lots to see for another visit - ‘China beach’, near to Hoi An, famous during the Vietnam war for US army R&R, a Cham Museum in nearby Da Nang or visiting My Son, one of the most important Cham temple (Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century) sites in Vietnam. Although very interesting, it would have meant more ‘vehicle’ time to manage a return trip that day. Sadly, wartime bombing destroyed much of the Cham site.

Day 8

Day 10