Hoi An

A beautiful city, Hoi An was not destroyed by bombs in the recent war so a lot of the old French colonial buildings and older buildings remain. It is a popular tourist destination and very attractive at nights with lanterns hanging across the narrow streets.

We started the day with a city tour from the old market where a working well was being used and food stalls selling breakfasts etc in full action. A visit to the old Phuc Kien pagoda style temple which is a mix of Chinese Japanese and Vietnamese styles. Coils of incense were hanging from the ceiling, relatives purchase these putting their family name on them and they slowly burn for about a month in memory of their ancestors and living family. Next an old timber merchants house was visited, it had marks indicating the heights of previous floods when the first storey was just above the water 1964 being the worst.

The city is known for its excellent tailoring and we visited a recommended tailors where we were left as several of us decided to buy items. I chose a dress design and material which my husband bought for my birthday. It was ready the next day and fitted beautifully.

Further exploring of the town followed, this shot shows the small boats with their eyes on the other side of the river. A lovely evening meal in the lively city where one member of our group bought a smoking ice cream. It looked like three ice cream balls with smoke coming our but was dumpling with dry ice inside. Another great day.