Vietnam - we flew down to Hue ...

 HUE

The old capital is a very lovely town on the banks of the Perfume River, with notable cultural relics that are gradually being restored, and are humming with Vietnamese visitors. The local food is big on yummy chewy dumplings and rolls and dipping sauces, and of course the famous Bun Bo Hue (beef soup) of which sadly we did not find a good example! Our riverfront guesthouse was in the heart of backpacker-land, but a short walk across the bridge was another world, a quiet local village. The river is lined by parkland, but on a sunset walk back from the Citadel it was strangely difficult to find a riverfront beer ... finally did though!

Quiet village over the bridge ...

Quiet village 2

At the Citadel

At the Citadel 2

At the Citadel 3

Perfume River sunset

Beer with sunset view

Breakfast with a view

Pagoda at Hue

Pagoda at Hue 2

Local tourists

Hue street

HOI AN

We took a bus to Hoi An, a few hours south of Hue, another revisit from 13 years ago. We were shocked by the increase in numbers of tourists, international and local - the Old Town and riverside are like a neon-lit Disneyland! But still a very beautiful small town if you avoid those parts, and wander the laneways.

It was too hot and humid to do much walking and exploring, so we signed up for both a Street Food tour and a Cooking class (to Chris's horror!). It was impossible to eat everything from 15 very various street food stops and we had to bring some home for breakfast! For cooking the next day, we visited the amazing local market, then cycled out of town to a neighbouring village, surrounded by market gardens, and cooked stuffed pancakes and spring rolls, and various banana leaf-wrapped delicacies, all of which we ate by the river. So good!

Cooking class!

Hoi An workers

Hoi An market

By the river ...

Hoi An laneway

Hoi An market 2

Tourist boats on the river

Grilled seafood at the market!

Guardian at the Japanese bridge

Hoi An street