South Central Vietnam

In all honesty, there isn't much I can say about Hoi An. It was pretty, and the architecture was cool as it is a world heritage site and was not damaged during the war, but there are sooooo many tailor shops and tourists stores that it takes away from the whole vibe. You can't walk down the street without eyeing the endless things you can have made. Shoes, boots, bags, coats, dresses, suits, you name it, they can make it. So of course, I spoiled myself and got a few things.

On the days I wasn't getting fitted and picking stuff out, a group of us rented motorbikes and cruised around out to China Beach, which is a beach where US soldiers would get some R&R when they were off duty. It was a really pretty beach, but since there were a lot of locals, I had to swim fully clothed as bikinis are not standard attire for Vietnamese, and unless you want to get stared at even more than normal, its best to swim in your clothes.

Tourists deciding what to get made

One of the cool buildings

I also went to some Cham ruins outside town known as My Son. These ruins are even older than Ankor Wat in Cambodia. They were pretty amazing, but I twisted my ankle really bad getting out of the bus. The bus driver jumped out, sat me on a stool and started poking my ankle and twisting my foot at every ankle while almost screamed out loud in pain. He clapped his hands together, gave me a thumbs up and walked away. Thanks Dr. Bus Driver.

Ruins

Hah!

Cutest lady ever

After Hoi An, I decided to do my own thing and went to this town called Quy Nhon (pronounced Wee Non). It was awesome. There is one hostel there actually, so besides myself, there were about 6 other western tourists in the whole city. I met some nice Americans and we rented bikes and cruised out to the Leprosy Hospital which has an amazing beach. It was really weird being on hospital grounds on a beach.

View of Leprosy Hospital Beach

Local fishing boats

USA or bust!

Bike and me

Those white things are jelly fish

Another beach in town

This tank was in the water for a long time, and at low tide you could see it. But they recently took it out and moved it to the museum! It would have been so much cooler to see in the water!

One of the many amazing things I ate in Quy Nhon. This town was great cause the street food was soooo good, and I got local prices, not tourist prices since they aren't used to our kind being there. One of the few places in Vietnam where prices aren't jacked up for us.

Sunset in Quy Nhon

I took the overnight bus to Dalat, which is located in the southern highlands. Its a cute place, bigger than I thought, but MUCH cooler than everywhere else. I can actually walk around without being soaking wet with sweat. And I wear a sweater at night! Yesterday me and this danish couple went out with what is called the Dalat Easy Riders, which is a bunch of dudes with motorcylces who give you a tour of the countryside. It was really fun!

We went to a silk factory, this is where silk comes from!

Beautiful view. During the war, this valley was used by the communists to try to sneak attacks on the American troops. It used to be covered in jungle but we bombed the bejesus out it so we could catch those buggers... didn't work, we still lost. They have replaced the jungle landscape with pine trees, which I thought was weird, but I am no botanist.

Team Denmark, Mark and Fia and ME

This place is known as the Crazy House in Dalat. It is still under construction, but it is a hotel built by a Vietnamese woman who studied architecture in Moscow. Other buildings that were too crazy for communists were torn down, but since her father was second in line to Uncle Ho, the building will remain standing. Its a hotel where you can actually stay. It really is crazy.

Only a few days left in Vietnam, off to Saigon tomorrow morning, then into Cambodia!