We said goodbye to Na Trang after a very busy morning and boarded a plane bound for Da Nang
The city’s origins date back to the ancient Champa Kingdom, established by Indonesian settlers in 192 AD. At its peak, the Chams’ sphere of influence stretched from Huế to Vũng Tàu. Beginning with Emperor Lê Hoàn (founder of the Early Lê Dynasty), the Vietnamese policy of “southward expansion” (Vietnamese: Nam Tiến) brought Champa increasingly into conflict with their northern neighbours; this expansion eventually led to the decline and fall of the Champa Kingdom during the mid-15th century.(info courtesy of Wikipedia)
During the Vietnam War, the city was home to a major air base that was used by both the South Vietnamese and United States air forces. The base was considered one of the world’s busiest airports during the war,
reaching an average of 2,595 air traffic operations daily, more than any airport in the world at that time. The final U.S. ground combat operations in Vietnam ceased on 13 August 1972, when a residual force of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade stood down in Đà Nẵng. B Battery 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired the final U.S. artillery round and the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment finished their final patrols.
(info courtesy of Wikipedia)
Hoi An seems to be home to almost every tailor on the planet, with shop after shop offering to make a variety of garments in less than 24 hours!
Our hotel was charming but had the hardest bed and pillows I have every slept on! And for me to find a pillow that is too hard is quite an achievement…but I do have an inflatable pillow with me that I will try.
The fellow carving the block, together with his family turns out works like the large Buddah we so wanted to take home
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Although the company ships all over the world, we feared we would require a HUGE crane to get any of their large works into our garden…
The road in front of the hotel is currently under construction which was good news as it meant no passing traffic and the incessant hooting of the scooters and cars…not that I am complaining about that you understand
Not far from our hotel we found this woman tending a crop of morning glory…she was still working hours later in the pitch dark!
No Paul Newman or Tom Cruise in sight…”Show me the money” could be the Vietnamese motto as they love to bet…
And now for some images that caught my attention…
a moment in Hoi An…
We had eaten at Green Moss on our first night, after that every time we walked past we got a smile and a friendly wave…
A great restaurant to eat at…really friendly people and great food at good prices!
This is the Mother of the owner of the Green Moss restaurant…
This woman really wanted me to take a picture but the child was not playing along…eventually curiosity got the better of her.
Most of my first afternoon was spent on this street corner while Caro was sorting out clothing requirements 🙂
Lots of empty buildings around…
More bicycles here than we have seen in the previous town we have visited…
But still hundreds of scooters…
We found these products in the produce market…
A bustling and crowed place…not for those who suffer from claustrophobia or who do not like being bumped and jostled…
doing her washing in the river…
I spotted this elderly woman in the old part of the city…
This is the famed Japanese covered bridge.Built in 1593. It links Thran Pu with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street.
MIELIES…
Caro had clothing made here…the ladies were extremely patient and worked until late to get the garments ready for her…please support them if you are every in Hoi An!
some of the river ‘traffic’…
For more images, visit:david batzofin photography
