Hoi An, I Think I Love You...

Perhaps I am just a dumb tourist, but of all the places we visited in Vietnam.... Hoi An was my favourite by far! It's relaxed feel, charming old buildings, restaurants and endless shops filled with gorgeous silks just won my heart.

It seemed like the restful holiday bit of the tour, sandwiched between the bustling cities of Hanoi and Saigon. Possibly, this was because we stayed in the fabulous Hoi An Riverside Resort, on the banks of the Song Do River.....

Song Do River

Restaurant and bar

Accommodation

Resort pool

Exotic fruit breakfast

Private beach, a short shuttle trip away

The resort was just a quick taxi ride from Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site...

Hoi An is particularly pretty in the evening....

I developed a bit of an obsession with lanterns....

The Old Quarter is home to the Japanese Bridge (16th to 17th Century)....

And just loads of shops selling lovely things...

Hoi An is a town full of expert tailors... I had two evening dresses made to measure in under 24 hours, delivered to my hotel, B had an exceptionally sharp suit and shirt made, and I could have easily bought a dozen other outfits but restrained myself to two shirts and two pairs of trousers!

Next up... A Cookery Class in Hoi An

Vietnam - A Quick Overview

Our travels took us from the vibrant capital Hanoi....

Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi

.... to the unique beauty of Ha Long Bay....

Overnight cruise - Ha Long Bay

... onto laid back, charming Hoi An....

River front street - Hoi An



...to the bustling city of Saigon....

Saigon traffic

.... and finally, to the otherworldliness of the Mekong Delta - where time seems to have slowed right down....

More on each of these places to follow soon....

People Watching In Vietnam

I'm back! What an amazing, enlightening trip.... Vietnam completely blew me away! The sights, the sounds, the smells, the vibrant life on the street - there is just so much to show you all and tell you about that I hardly know where to begin.

Perhaps it was the Vietnamese people that I found most fascinating.... their friendliness to strangers, their eagerness to please, their pride in their country, their industrious nature. The way they embrace modern life yet still revere their age-old traditions. The importance they place on family.

Fruit seller in Hoi An

 Street fruit sellers in Hanoi

 Bridal couple in Hanoi

 Family gathering in Hanoi

 Monk and incense seller - temple at Marble Mountain

Lunchtime gossip in Hoi An

 Crab seller in Hoi An market

 Hoi An market

 Riding in style

 Water taxi, Mekong Delta

 Fisherman, Mekong Delta

 More friendly fishermen, Mekong Delta

 Floating market, Mekong Delta

 Floating market, Mekong Delta

 Floating market, Mekong Delta

 Brothers

 My Vietnamese Toy Boy, Saigon - he wanted to take my photo so I took his too!

Monks in a row, Ho Chi Minh City airport

Loads more to come.....

How are you all doing? Hope to catch up with your blogs soon!