Hoi An

Situated midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, Hoi An is one of the best preserved Old town sites in the region. It’s a real mix, a veritable historic melting pot demonstrating its rich and varied history. Wooden Chinese houses and temples, French colonial buildings, ornate narrow Vietnamese houses and shops and a Japanese influence best exemplified by the 18th century Japanese covered bridge with its pagoda. Easy to walk / cycle around although it covers a fair size; that is if you can negotiate the manic scooters who ignore all traffic controls and lane discipline but simultaneously defy all laws in never seeming to come to a dire end…..so far…

Transport

Take your pick…. walk, boat, taxi, rickshaw, cycle, scooter….

People

Lovely people, more smiley than in the capital but I guess that is pretty normal wherever you are. Very happy to say hello, or at least that’s what I think they are saying and as usual in some foreign lands very keen to show off their English language skills…. although have not heard ‘the Queen’, ‘fish & chips’, ‘Bobby Charlton’ or fortunately Brexit as yet.

Overdue haircut