Yes, it has been awhile since we posted. Still have more to share about Vietnam, but this “real job” thing seems to have gotten in the way, as well as jet lag.
Once we made it through the Hai Van Pass, we decided to make a trip to the ancient city of Hoi An, a short taxi ride from the city of Da Nang. Talk about a great decision! Only regret was there was not more time (although with the sheer number of silk shops and tailors, this was probably a good thing). First of all, a little background info about Hoi An. The city os an ancient SouthEast Asian trading port, along the South China Sea. From the 7th-10th centuries it was important in the spice trade and had international influences including Chinese, Japanese, and Dutch influences. Also, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We arrived in town and just decided to spend the first part of the afternoon walking around. The streets were lined with many shops offering gifts, silks, dresses, and art as well as cafe’s. We thought “this is cute” until we turned a corner and stumbled upon the river, and discovered why people rave about this city. Think: Venice meets Vietnam. We decided to hop in a flat river boat and see the city from the river:

We then had an amazing meal at this delicious outdoor cafe along the river, complete with its own lantern-lit pergola.

After dinner, we discovered that at night, the children sell candles to float down the river. I am sure that this is for the tourists, but the effect was stunning! Hoi An: definitely a must!