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Published: July 27th 2012
We caught our first sleeper bus to Hoi An, another wonderful experience! Strange things these sleeper buses, three rows with bunk beds and very cramped. We stopped 10 minutes after take off and a load of locals got on. I wasn't sure what was happening as the bus was full. I'm so stupid at times, of course, they were going to sleep on the floor in the aisles! Luckily for us we were on the top bunk and were stocked with veg sarnies so I was happy enough!
You might have guessed we didn't get much sleep! We arrived in Hoi An at 8 am and miraculously found our hotel almost immediately! (we're getting good at this!)
After checking in we headed into the old town (passing couples still looking for their hotels) It is a beautiful place, an ancient town that feels like a living museum. We found the Japanese bridge, it was a good looking bridge but we didn't feel the need to spend money to cross it, so instead headed to a caf for Vietnamese coffees and croissants, mmmmm.
Many people travel to Hoi An for shopping, it is the tailor made Mecca of
Vietnam and the amount of shops is overwhelming. After much Internet forum reading I decided we should head to the scruffier end of town to find Miss Forget Me Not, located in the cloth market. The cloth market again is overwhelming and we had to politely tell all the other ladies we were looking for stall no 20. After an hour I had chosen my materials and styles and Paul had been measured for the best suit he'd ever have! All for 100 quid. A great experience with one of the sweetest people we've ever met. We were told to come back at 4 the next day to try on!
Beer was cheap in Hoi An, the cheapest we'd seen, 12 pence each, we had a few!!! The next day we hopped on a moped and explored the area, the beach was deserted and all pretty undeveloped, then we headed further up the coast to see a stretch of building sites, man made beaches and hotels being built, looks like the place will be unrecognisable next year.
Back at Miss Forget Me Nots and we were gob smacked with both the quality and fit
of our clothes, only minor amendments needed! We were so impressed and had saved a lot of money visiting the market rather than one of the fancier shop fronts in town. We'll recommend Forget Me Not to everyone!
Hoi an is a foodie heaven, although we didn't see any veg street food so ate out properly the three nights we were there. On our last night we ate at Morning Glory restaurant (one of the best places to eat in central Vietnam, according to our trusted lonely planet guide), we had crispy tofu coated in sweet sticky goodness, roasted aubergines and veg curry. It was worth blowing our food budget for and Paul left feeling full, a rarity over the past few months, although he will have to starve himself a while longer if he's to get in his new suit when we get home!!!
We loved Hoi An and would come back in an instant.
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Anne Ash
non-member comment
Wonderful
The blogging is brilliant........I feel like I'm experinencing it all with you! The bus sounded a nightmare! Reminded me of a horrid coach journey to Barcelona in 1967.