From Hue the bus ride to Da Nang was only a quick and easy 3 hours bus ride as the roads were pretty good. I have been on a few bus rides by now and I must say I find it quite ridiculous how the buses stop at those weird resting points/shopping areas for 30 min, just so you can buy lots of local and unnecessary souvenirs. Not sure if anyone buys anything but I am sure the bus driver gets a decent cut from it!
Either way, I was looking forward to Da Nang and my days in Hoi An, the ancient must see town of Vietnam.
Da Nang
It was still beautiful and sunny in Da Nang. However the rain forecast was getting close so I made the most out of the sunny days.
Da Nang sits on the coast in central Vietnam and people come here to enjoy the beach. I was super excited as I have finally arrived in civilisation. Outside the old town centre, Da Nang was developed with lots of modern hotels and restaurants. The view out to the beach and over the city was quite nice from my hotel balcony. At night most of the buildings lit up with colourful LED displays. It was clearly a tourist holiday stop. Due to that, and the amount of hotels, it was quite easy to find a luxurious room for great value. Nice treat for a change.
Even though many reviews about Da Nang say it has clear blue beach water the reality looks different. The beach is nice and long but at some parts you can see the rubbish piled up which makes it a bit more unattractive. I wasn‘t that keen to go for a swim.
The Dragon Bridge is quite grand and definitely a unique design, symbolising good fortune and power. All in all Da Nang is worth a stop before you go to Hoi An. Especially when you go an explore the backroads and countryside.
Hai Van Pass
One of the must do in Da Nang is driving the Hai Van Pass, a road highly recommended by Top Gear itself. It is a beautiful drive where you can take amazing photos while winding around the scenic route.
The view from the top was stunning. There were hardly any cars or trucks on the road which made the ride very enjoyable. It was clearly a ride for the bikers and as it was the first pass I have riden a bike along, I am looking forward to do another.
My days in Hoi An
25km south of Da Nang sits Hoi An, a well-preserved Ancient Town with many canals and islands. The former port city reflects a mix of architecture, from wooden Chinese shophouses to colourful French colonial buildings as well as the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. It is a cute little town and very different to what I have seen in Vietnam so far. It reminds me a bit of Strassbourg in France. My favourite so far!
The little streets are filled with shops who offer custom made clothing or leather goods, as well as other local souvenirs that you can buy in masses. I have definitely never seen that many families dressed in matching outfits. From husband to wife and even babies. Banana pants anyone?
What I like most in Hoi An is the ability to ride around on a bicycle, mostly available for free at any hotel. If you have to pay you are staying at the wrong hotel. I decided to stay here for a few days to keep an eye on the weather. Fortunately it was sunny on the first day so I could take all my photos of Hoi An. The following days were cloudy and rainy so my activities were a little bit limited. But a walk or a bike ride in between the rain was always great. Hoi An is definitely a must see ancient town.
What’s next? Given the rain forecast for another week I think I will fast forward my trip in Vietnam. Although I had some fun days in here I have had enough of waiting for a sunny day. No dry season here at the moment!
So let‘s see what plan I come up with next!
