Hoi An

After our trip to Halong Bay (and another quick evening in Hanoi) we caught a flight from Hanoi to Danang.

First off for people looking to travel to the area: note: if you are flying internally in Vietnam and traveling via Vietnam Airlines, be forewarned that they don't actually give you a seat number until you get to the airport and check in. This would have been something good for us to know (because they put all of us all over the plane). We were able to work it out, but it was a quick lesson learned. Thankfully most people are nice when you have kids. :) SO, the lesson from this, show up at the airport early, be prepared to not sit with your loved ones and be patient. Ahhhh, patience.

We arrived in Danang and the temperature had risen about 15 degrees (ahhhh, summer). Our driver wasn't on time (frustration... again... with the patience) and we had to wait around the airport for awhile (which, like all of the airports in Vietnam had many pieces of American influence i.e. runways, old helicopter bunkers). When we finally got a car, we headed to Hoi An. Driving past China Beach. Fairly surreal... to say the least.

We got to our hotel in Hoi An, it was called Hoi An Riverside Resort. It had a lovely atmosphere (and a great pool, to the kids delight). We enjoyed a nice lunch, got checked into our rooms, enjoyed a nap, a swim, some dinner and this sunset over the river....

Hoi An is an old port city in VietNam that has been revitalized as a tourist mecca. There were a number of historical buildings, pagodas and shrines around the town. Mainly though, the old town area was filled with shops and restaurants. Street after street of tailors that would sew you ANY item you were looking for and more odds and ends than you could pack in your suitcase.

We did take a short city tour of the old town. It was quite lovely.

Cleaner and more tourist friendly than Hanoi.

The girls inside on of they old houses. It was a hot day.

On the riverfront.

Our stop in Hoi An would not be complete without some tailored clothing. Mommy purchased a couple of dresses and the girls were interested in the Au Dai (the traditional Vietnamese dress of women). So, both of them were measured and got to pick out the silk of their choice.

Here is Alessandra being measured. I did have some photos of the girls in their Au Dai's, but they were gone when the camera was taken, so I will add one the next time they wear them!

In hindsight, we weren't crazy about Hoi An. It was a little TOO touristy for our taste. That being said, it did offer us a nice break from the craziness of Hanoi and some well needed down time. We swam every day and enjoyed our hotel, so in that light, it was a good place to go for a break.