Back to 'Nam

Our time in Cambodia drew to an end far too quickly but adventure awaited us back in Vietnam.  We avoided the pockmarked, potholed roads and booked ourselves on a flight from Siem Reap to Danang, a short taxi drive from our next stop, Hoi An.

In our travels we connected with a rather dopey Italian couple who we shared a cab with.  Chaos ensued and after four circles the wrong way down one-way market-stalled streets, we made it to our home for the next six days, the Vin Hung Riverside Resort.  Rooms were okay, nothing spectacular--air conditioning, bathtub, bed.

our particular view of paradise 

What was spectacular was everything else.  Riverside location with chairs to perch and sun oneself, pool equipped with swim-up bar, the most spectacular of free breakfasts and most deliciously, something Paul and I dubbed as 'four o'clockses', an amazing taste of Vietnam provided free of charge at 4pm daily, weather permitting.  Whilst our hosts noodled, wrapped, rolled and fried various culinary wonders, we sampled everything and anything whilst sipping beer at tables made for short people.  Too decadent and definitely worth a stay.

a new culinary discovery for us, Ban Xeo, a deep friend pancake stuffed with bean sprouts, prawns and spices and then wrapped in rice paper

Sated, we begun our explorations of Hoi An, a charming UNESCO protected city that once served as at the centre of Asia's spice trade. The Chinese and Japanese influences are definitely seen and felt when walking around, most notably in the city's distinguishing feature--its abundance of lanterns.  

 We were charmed. And very grateful we'd picked a good spot to spend the biggest chunk of what remained of our two weeks touring Vietnam.