Off this morning on our bus to Hoi An via Da Nang
Lots of stops on the way due to incredible mountain and coastal scenery - it really is an amazing drive
Main stop at the mountain pass which held strategic importance in the Vietnam War as from this point you can see anyone approaching for many miles north and south so the French and later Americans set up bunkers there so they could see the Vietcong approaching. However the Vietkong had built the Ho Chi Minh trails through the mountains which effectively mad them undetectable as they headed South
Stopped also in Da Nang which is now a rapidly developing modern high tech city with state of the art environmental policies etc. it had to be rebuilt from scratch after the war not because of bombings but because of neglect as it had become a ghetto for rural refugees in the area. The massive US base here is being reclaimed for urbanization as well. Very interesting but am glad we are not staying here
Onto Hoi An and our resort hotel just outside the old city - great place but power off on rations so room hot as hell
We headed into the World Heritage old city which is quite amazing and in the central part no vehicles are allowed. Walked around and saw heaps - traditional music show, Chinese temple, Japanese covered bridge and a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants etc
Dinner at Mermaid tonight which is a well established traditional restaurant
Hoi An is quite unique and although it has become a bit of a resort town the World Heritage listing is ensuring the old town is being restored properly