Wandering Scotts: Hoi An a perfect end to the tour

Hoi An tailors, shoemakers, festival....what else?

We hired a car and driver from Hue to Hoi An,which isn't really that far but the speed limit is 70 Kmph it would seem, and there is so much traffic to avoid including motor cycles, push bikes, people buses and cars, plus a few animals, it takes all day.

Our first " commercial break " was the pearl farm, for coffee, the sales people were quite persistent but we resisted the temptation, after 30 mins our driver was ready to take us further.

We passed many rice fields and village settlements all busy with the bobbing of conical hats. Our route was to take us up the Hai Van pass to the American lookout post now in disrepair, it started to rain so it was a quick walk up snap, snap and people wanted to have pictures with Gina! This stop was also another " commercial break" and we succumbed to the ladies selling pearls.

I'm not famous you know

It was another refreshment stop for our drive too, he got a free lunch. The scenery along the coast was a change from the flat fields, some interesting beaches were in the distance.

We arrive in Hoi An about 2 pm and asked if we would like to go to a traditional village handcrafts place.....ok we say, guess what it was another " commercial break".....but we didn't buy. They did have live silk worms munching away on leaves, demonstrated traditional and mechanical weaving, guided us passed the girls embroidering pictures from photographs, showed us into the tailoring sales shop, and out to the wood carving and lantern making......which was very colorful .

Silk worms having lunch

Now it was time to find our hotel.....we were taken to the wrong hotel, well actually our travel agent had booked the wrong hotel. It was coming to the end of our holiday and we had chosen to stay at an up market resort Vinh Hung Riverside resort ( yes by the river) , we had been taken to the Vinh Hung 2 hotel in the middle of town. We had to phone the travel agent to get it sorted and finally we were collected and taken a few blocks to our chosen accommodation. Ahhh all was well, first get orientated, second go for a swim, third they have a daily food tasting hour in the garden, time for a beer we think, then it's off out the street to the town to explore.

Lucky for us it is festival time and the Saturday night was very exciting, there was a street entertainment, market, hawkers and the very colorful tradition of lighting candles and floating them down the river, lots of locals and visitors mingling on the bridge Highly decorated in lanterns. We found a " fresh beer" and sat a while to watch the passing parade.

Hoi An festival

Sunday, time to have a light workout at the fitness centre, a swim and then an extensive buffet breakfast. Now it's off to town by boat to check out the tailors! We had a couple of recommendations but they did not stock the material for Tony's new jacket. Wandered into the next one, and yes they had the material, were very friendly, had excellent English and customer rapport. Fabrics chosen, garment styles discussed, and measurements taken, we could come back tomorrow afternoon to collect. A couple of shops up the street we found a shoemaker, one pair of ankle boots for me and one pair of black dress shoes for Tony, is that all YES thank you, ok, come back tomorrow afternoon.

Ok so the shopping is done its off to explore the market, where we were met by a very persuasive young lady who kindly took us to her tailoring shop! Ok so I bought one more dress, measured, chose the material and yes, come back tomorrow, thank you.

Wandering down the alleyway another kind helpful lady insisted I should have my face threaded, "it not hurt! It last forever!" Mmmm I wonder? Ok I'll give it a go, ouch ouch ouch for 15 minutes, but my face was smooth and of course she said I now looked younger ha ha ha.

Away we wander through the streets on the way back to the resort, stop for a fresh beer or two,and a snack. Tony is persuaded to purchase some sunglasses from a wandering vendor, and we make it back in time for a swim before the usual afternoon down pour.

Skipper Tony in Hoi An

Monday the gym, a swim and breakfast, take the laundry across the road, yes I'll have it ready by 4 pm ok, then we're are off to town again on the boat...both days the boat captain has allowed Tony to drive the boat. We arrive at the pier safely, and start wandering along to find the money exchange, Aus$ were better than us$ so cashed up again we go in search of a good coffee , one more to our taste than the Vietnam variety, we found Lavazza coffee at ' Go travel Vietnam' , yes this is a travel agent with a coffee/ cafe front. Nice coffee helpful people, more shopping information ! Tony tries to organize a fishing trip but it's full for tomorrow you have to go on wait list, ok then it's off to find a silversmith, slowly wandering the streets we find what we are looking for and make another purchase.

Silversmith shop

Now it's beer time again and hot midday sun is beating down, so we settle into a cafe with fresh beer and get talking to another helpful tour guide Tony organizes a fishing trip, we also start talking to some people from Sydney, they had bought a picture of a daughter's desired dress and her measurements to be made in Hoi An , what a great idea, glad we didn't do that I'm sure the list would have been too long.

So now we've killed some more time and stayed out of the heat for a while, it's off to do the pick up of our tailoring. First we pass by a baggage stall in the market- we could need another bag to go home! Now over to the dress maker, try on, needs some alteration, we wait, ah yes that's better, ok completed. Around to the first tailor, ok so two things weren't ready for trying yet, one needed altering. Not too bad so we order some more shirts. Come back tomorrow! Now for the shoes, yes mine are ok Tony's not so good, they need to remake- come back tomorrow! Ok.

Enough time to go back to the pool and some eats we think. Dinner at little place just five doors from the Buddah restaurant, and three doors up from the up market, Mango Mango, this meal was one do the nicest and freshes and simple food we had eaten, fresh red snapper and squid, top off with homemade passion fruit ice cream, yummy.

Tuesday morning Tony goes off fishing at 7:30 I have a leisurely breakfast collect the laundry, which had forgotten to get dried the day before, and go to collect all the tailor made clothes. On the way I pass a french designer label shop " just new" the young lady was very attentive and pleased to tell me about each design, was also showing me garments which would be flattering, so yep I invested my cash in a new pure Vietnam silk designer top, instead of a cooking class and a fishing trip! Then it's back tithe resort to relax by the Pool and await the return of the fisherman.

The beach

Catch of the day

Cocktails in the garden? Yes please. Tom Collins, Singapore sling, another? Ok local design - Red brick made with coconut cream, and a Why Not!

Off to collect shoes and diner, so many places to choose from, the barman had suggested Blue Dragon so we went off in search and decided it looked ok so settled in with a beer and ordered a combination hot pot excellent, noodles and a variety do seafood and pork and veggies, glass or two of Chile red and white and then it was off to find the renown Morning Glory for desert. Yes they had cream caramel yummo, and waffles.

On the way to dinner we strolled through the market again and were approached by a lady who seemed to think we needed a manicure or threading or something, surely! Ok Tony decided he could have a shave, and it was a very good one, I decided to have the foot massage very relaxing too. All for $7.50

We like Hoi An the people are friendly, helpful, fair in their dealings, it's an easy town to get around and many hire bikes or motor cycles, but walking is easy. There are a few cultural spots to check out too, the Japanese Bridge, a temple or two, and an old house, the folk art shop is excellent too.

Hoi An - want a tailor?

While you are exploring the town you also can't help but notice the flood marks, many of the shops keep the records of how high the floods come up each year, last year was quite dramatic I guess about four foot, 1969 was way over eight foot. When it floods, apparently everyone bands together and starts carrying everything upstairs , even our resort complex has had boats come to evacuate guests from the second story! How would you like to have to go through muddy flood clean up every year? They do, it's a way of life, an expectation.

Our journey ends in a couple of days, it is back to Hanoi back to the Marigold - the best hotel in Hanoi, and back to the airport and home to Tasmania - back to uncrowded streets, safety regulations, and of course work, until the next adventure.