As much as we love Hanoi, Andrew and I have realized – recently – that most of a year has gone by without much travel within Vietnam. First destination: Hoi An, a seaside “city” in south-central Vietnam famous for it’s old architecture (protected by a UNESCO grant), tailors, fresh air, and seafood. Ok so no seafood for us…but still!
A quick flight to Da Nang (45 minutes to the north of Hoi An, this more modern city is a familiar name to Americans of my parent’s generation), followed by a beautiful drive along a coastal highway on a $5 rented motorbike…and there we were. Three days in paradise.
Click on these for bigger versions…
This is…a pretty typical Hanoi morning right now
with 2-wheeled transport, the weather can be a drag
don’t get me wrong, the gray is…beautiful in it’s own way. The light is softer than in the sun and heat…
but a trip was necessary.
In Da Nang, the sky was blue, the air was fresh, the dragon bridge imposing.
AGC’s first glimpse of the East Sea…
45 minutes on this coastal road down to Hoi An was…not a particularly unpleasant trip
everything here is green
and yellow
and sun dappled (random outdoor restaurant)
wandering Hoi An’s old streets by night
open shopfronts
warm lighting
beautiful old-style buildings
lowering paper lanterns on the full-moon festival
and congregate along the edges
we spent both free afternoons here
beachside bar
view from the old Japanese bridge
shady coffee and chess with friends
tourist looking touristy, stuffed ape looking…like he’d like to escape.
quick break from the sun and wandering for a coffee in an outdoor cafe shaded by flowering vines, cooled by old fans
rhetorical question of the day: why is it that EVERYTHING is beautiful on vacation?
cool in the shade, hot in the sun
one of the 1,045 adorable mutts in Hoi An
mobile seaside snack stand!
AGC, late afternoon sun, beach reading
exploring Hoi An’s temples
everything is green and beautiful
flowering tree
a city of rivers and canals means a city of bridges and ferries
full to the brim with sweet, delicious, coconut water
of COURSE we found an incredible vegetarian place while we were there…
one of my favorite finds from the trip…simple cafe across the river from the old section of town
view from breakfast location
final evening in town, bicycling back from the beach
CristinaBain 
Very interesting and beautiful pictures! :)
What an INCREDIBLE portfolio!!! Your best photographic work in years… I SOOOOo want to go there now…. Thanks!
It’s a beautiful beautiful city. Lots of touristy stuff while managing to be charming and wonderful and simple.
I’d forgotten how great the city was. Really just a wonderful place, and lots of beautiful easy driving roads in both directions for when you want to get out of town and away from the touristy stuff.