Travelling About Vietnam - Part Four

Continuing from Part Three: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2112640

Hoi An’s ‘old town’ is a UNESCO world heritage site – an exceptionally well-preserved South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th century.

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The Thu Bon River is an important highway here and can be very efficient http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2926780310041536798kfTdDZ
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This year TET was welcoming in the Year of the Cat and we made a point of being in Hoi An for the celebrations. Even so it rained lightly for 2-days, no one’s spirit was dampened. Always there were masses of flowers for purchase http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2542018470041536798xWfiwy
Brightly coloured balloons http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2892206470041536798aGlqCE
and of course the ever present and delightful red lanterns or red flags hanging from anything …. totally brightening up the day. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2488171030041536798AJSNuj Incense sticks were also ever present for TET. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2267839880041536798sLlQHk

Beautiful lanterns were created of all sizes in terrifically intricate design. Many were very large created just for the pleasure of children and many were giant sized and beautifully lit up when floating on the river at night. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2111868150041536798PRcFPO
See the child looking inside http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2479312020041536798wuoWcN
This is what the child saw – there is a house inside – astonishing work http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2674823910041536798jZrxna

At midnight, lots of lotus shaped paper lanterns each with a tiny candle came floating down the river and of course there was lots of fireworks
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2173364260041536798EUXrfK with the preceding evenings always presenting excellent stage presentations right next to the river.

Terrifically interesting heritage sites http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2265215090041536798SudWmn
and endless excellent restaurants– to suit every mood, taste and budget.

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There are so many excellent restaurants - it was difficult to choose just one - I will point out The Dao Tien Restaurant, 21 Phan Boi Chau St. http://www.daotienhoian.net/daotienrestaurantandbar.html which I discovered when pedalling my rental bike all about the myriad of small walk/road ways on the ‘other’ side of the old town. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2356685210041536798imUhHJ
I changed my route to along the river and looked over to see an enclosed garden with tables, chairs, shade umbrellas. It was a baking hot day so I popped in for a cool drink and later made dinner reservations for the following evening. We chose an 8 course Vietnamese dinner, expressly so that we could learn. I admit that I was a bit nervous – even thinking to myself, “Oh well, I can always grab something to eat at the corner.”. Staff were endlessly patient with our queries and every bit was exceptionally tasty with every plate a work of art and on top of that, the price was very low. There are quite a number of very good restaurants in this area.

Prices are strange (to me that is ) – for whether the fee is for food or accommodation you can pay just $5.00 more and will be bumped from plain adequate to luxury OR receive the same as before. And that simply provides the impetus to have more fun and check out more places :)

Very popular with tourists were the cooking classes offered in the various towns ….. small groups go shopping with a Vietnamese chef – they learn to choose from the market itself - then bring back to the restaurant and learn how to cook it.

Two little ladies ready to celebrate: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2326032290041536798lqGiwW

Continued….