Hoi An

The small ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits on the banks of the the Tu Bon river, a few kilometres inland from the coast.  From the 16th to the 18th centuries it was an important trading port, attracting traders from China, Japan, and even Europe, so has a rich cultural heritage.

Photo by Paul Mannix on Flickr

It's even hotter here, with more humidity, so it's much like walking around in a sauna...
There's lots to do and see here.  The streets are more walkable than Saigon, and at certain times of the day, in the old part of town, motorbikes are not allowed, so you only have to watch out for bicycles, which is a relief.

We walked around this morning, got ourselves oriented after getting a bit lost, and found a riverfront restaurant; we each had a fan pointed down at us - heaven.  After an iced coffee (they know what foreigners want, as they advertise on their menu that their ice is made from purified water) we ordered grilled prawns with garlic.  Told it would be a bit of a wait, we're sure someone went to the market a block away to buy them, then came back... they were worth the wait - huge whole prawns with a garlic and lemongrass topping.  Wow - we really cleaned our plates.

View from our hotel balcony

Boats on the river
Eyes on boats are an ancient custom meant to scare away sea monsters (including crocodiles , and it seems to  be working --no crocs in this area anymore).

Close up of the boat above

After dark we used google maps to find a new restaurant up a very narrow street - more like a walkway.  It served "fusion" food, and we had to wait to get a table.  I guess that's what happens when the guidebook says it's "our new favourite." We climbed narrow steep stairs to the second floor to our table on a tiny balcony, which was great spot, as there was a bit of a breeze.  The food was excellent!