Hoi An, a World Heritage site, is a charming riverside town settled by Chinese and Japanese traders centuries ago. Many of the houses, shops, and temples from the 19th century or even earlier are still in use. Several streets ban cars and motor bikes and are for walking only - a pleasant change from the constant traffic. Hoi An is well known for its made-to-measure clothes and shoes and there are many tailors very anxious for business.

Yesterday we tried our hands at the traditional art of silk lantern making and found we were sadly lacking in the necessary dexterity. Today we had a Vietnamese cooking class starting from wandering around an organic farm, then through the market to buy the food, and finally moving to the kitchen where we helped make several delicious traditional dishes.