Hoi An Arrival Day

Tuesday, November 11, we flew from Saigon to Da Nang...a name that us old folks remember as headquarters for the U.S. Forces during the Vietnam War. On our way to our hotel, we passed by the airport used by our troops. I was surprised to see our hotel looking more like Mexico or the Caribbean than what I would have imagined. It was a beautiful resort on the Pacific Ocean (and yes...having the Pacific Ocean to the east took some getting used to), with palm trees, multiple infinity swimming pools, a sandy beach, etc.








This was a little respite towards the end of our trip...only Hanoi and a return to Bangkok remain. 😞 Thus our only activity today was resting, followed by a short ride to the town of Hoi An for dinner.

Hoi An was a major trading hub in Southeast Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, when it was known as Faifo. The population included settlers from China, Japan, the Netherlands, and India, which created a mix of cultures not seen in inland cities. The town faded into obscurity when the river silted up and the harbor became too shallow for commercial vessels...trade moved a few miles north.

But tourism brought new life to Hoi An, and the old town comes alive at night with lights, smells, sounds, and lots of strolling tourists! The entire old city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.




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