Hoi An's chief attraction is its architecture and long and murky history. Gaining Unesco World Heritage statues marked the world's appreciation of its resurrected Old Town. It's narrow and winding street offer a gloriously car-free labyrinth.
The Thu Bon river running through it is draped in fantastic eateries and fresh markets which are laid out in intricate sections of sea food, vegetables and meat. The thronging market place on occasion was quite choked up and squeezing through the tightly knit crowds made me clasp my wallet a little tighter.

As it's Valentine's Day the hundreds of colourful lanterns that are strewn above the streets were even more fitting than usual and added a heavy sense of romance and beauty.

A major attraction of the Old Town is the Japanese Bridge, though I thought this was actually something of a quirk rather than a serious sight to go and visit - its tiny! This modern day icon dates back to 1590 and had animal guards at both sides; monkeys on one and dogs in the other. The specific choice of these sentinels is something of a mystery. There are two accounts of their function: one is that many Japanese emperors were born in the year of the dog and the monkey; another account is that construction on the Bridge started in the year of the monkey and finished in the year of the dog. Both suggestions seem plausible but which (if any) are correct I guess will ever be found.

Walking around with a golden heart balloon and rose for Chelsea while she was off picking some trousers drew quite a lot of attention from local, old women who seemed to see me as a source of great amusement.

We later went to the gem museum, near the Japanese Bridge, and treated ourselves to a glass of wine (which was lovely) whilst overlooking the river and the lantern lit streets below.