A Touch of Paradise

We hired a car and driver to take us from Hue to Hoi An, which by bus is around four to five hours depending on the type of bus you choose. We were in Hoi An in 2.5 hours, although we did have to sacrifice a few tourist stops along the way.

Hoi An is an historic city protected by the Unesco World Heritage program. It is located on the coast of the South China Sea and it boasts a unique shopping district.

Because of the many tailors located in the city, you can order any type of clothing you want and within hours it will be ready. Many people have their suits made to measure and shipped home for around $40. We had planned to have some capris and shorts made here but suitcase limitations changed that idea - or is it that we are too lazy to search for the right material and then get measured and then go back for more measurements, etc?

We spent the day just wandering in the Old Town looking at the tailors and their silk shops. We especially liked the fact that the Old Town is car and motorcyle free, a wonderful feeling after dodging traffic in Hanoi and Hue for the past ten days.

There is an abundance of fine restaurants that cater to the many tourists that come to Hoi An. Many overlook the river and are a great place to sit and people watch.

I tried to concentrate my pictures on the people and activities of Hoi An rather than the city itself.