Hoi An must be one of the most beautiful places in all of
Vietnam.
The old town with its Chinese inspired architecture remains largely
intact despite decades of war. The town itself is close to one of the largest
cities in Vietnam, Da Nang.
We caught a bus here from the ancient Imperial Capital of Hue,
itself a great spot for a few days of discovery. Our bus passed through Da Nang
with one brief passenger drop off. We will head back there this evening to
board the SE7 train for Ho Chi Min City.
Fishers brave the seas in what are little more than small
round whicker tubs while tourists play in the breakers and the ever present
eagle eyed walking shops try their best to make a sale. They sell everything
from cold water to souvenirs and are very keen for everyone to at least have a
look!!!
The Old Town - a small enclave of old shops, shop houses and
temples that are now souvenir shops, galleries, leather goods shops, museums,
shoe shops, restaurants, local produce shops, tailors and still more shops!!!
Each shop proprietor 'invites' you into their shop.
There are a few variations
on the standard 'Come in please,' including 'You come in my shop, you looking
you buy something..,' 'Hello, where you from, buy from my shop..,' 'You buy
from me...' It gets a might trying having to respond to each and every one of
them as they do seem to be speaking directly to you.
The barber shop - There is a tradition here that barber shops
offer much more than mere hair cuts and shaves. They also clean your ears, a
process I am glad to say I have survived unscathed! After your haircut and
shave the barber dons a miners head lamp and sets to ones ears with a long
razor blade, probes and tweezers finishing up with a small ball of cotton wool
being rotated in your ear. The resultant waxy produce is proudly left on the
back of your hand so you know it was well worth it…
The Riverside - There is a
1 or 2 kilometre section of riverside given over to the Tourist Boats that will
take you out for an hour or a half hour cruise. There must be at least 50 of
these boats with their accompanying staff all trying to win your custom.
There
are many tour groups who are ferried from bus to boat or from bus to cyclo to
boat, all very orderly and great business for the tour operators.
There is also
a thriving fishing industry which is good to see.
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