HOI-AN 14TH-16TH DECEMBER 2006

We caught a 14hour bus journey from Hanoi to Hue, where we stayed for one night on the 14th. Hue is a pleasant town but lacks much beauty or interest. The weather was dreadful as it didnt stop raining so we mainly used it as a place to relax and sleep for the night. We left by bus the following morning, three and a half hours south to Hoi-An.

Hoi-An is a river-side town full of charm and culture. The river is lined with cosy resturants and cafes with a lively market at one end selling fresh vegetables and fish. Hoi-An is full of tailors shops and is the best place in Vietnam for getting custom made clothes; cheap and fast. Old buildings with an abundance of character; pastel colours, crumberling paint work and wooden shutters, all create an enchanting feel to the archetecture in Hoi-An. An old romantic atmosphere. If we'd been blessed with less rain during our time here, this would of been a lovely spot worth lingering in.

Our first day here we strolled around the town, taking in the atmosphere. Our second day we took a bus to 'My Son', which is Vietnams most important centre of the ancient kingdom of Champa and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It has served as the political capital, religious centre and a burial place for cham monarchs in the past, and today is a site full with ruins and monuments set in a valley surrounded by hills.

On our second evening we took a bus south to Nha Trang.