Into the Highlands Today was a long day in the coach. We have left the coast and headed up into the central highlands for 3 days. As we drove from Hoi An northwards before turning inland what became obvious was that the development going on at Da Nang is far greater than in any other place we have visited. There are several stadiums, new apartments and all of the other trappings of the western world. Clearly the Viets want to attract tourists that they can come ...

Musings on Vietnam Not knowing what to expect when we arrived ones viewpoint is complicated. Random voices of other travellers suggested that the people would be surly, not like the tourists and rip everyone off. None of this is true but as always it isn't that simple. What makes it more difficult is the inability to talk with ordinary people in the street as we do not, and nor do they have a competent grasp of their language. So any views are based on limited ...

Musings on Vietnam Not knowing what to expect when we arrived ones viewpoint is complicated. Random voices of other travellers suggested that the people would be surly, not like tourists and rip everyone off. None of this is true but as always it isn't that simple. What makes it more difficult is the inability to talk with ordinary people in the street as we do not, and nor do they have a competent grasps of the others language. So any views are based on limite...

Beach Dudes, Golf and Shopping! After Hue we travelled on a very wet day to Da Nang and the old centre of the American Army's R and R. Here we see the bits of how the new tourism in Vietnam is developing. Massive hotels, apartment complexes, whole beachfronts bought up and, oh yes, golf courses. Greg Norman has one as does some guy called Montgomerie. A round of golf including shoes, cart and clubs is 2.5 million Dong or about £80. No time now to try it out but...