Vietnam revisited - an update from the Guru of Travel.

To return to Vietnam after 10 years and see all the changes to the coastal strip Da Nang and Hoi An was quite head spin for me. So don’t take too long before you plan your adventure there, as soon it will be just another hotel beach resort like anywhere else in the world. They say there is not much difference between tourism and terrorism as they change things forever.

I personally love the old city of Hoi An. Just on the outskirts of the city, I stayed at the old style hotel Cua Dai were the rooms are large, clean, air-conditioned, ceiling fans and with breakfast included. For $AUD45 double, its great value with the added bonus of a great pool and the hotel staff are all 4 star.

		It is just a 5-minute stroll to town where the FUN begins. If you like shopping (be honest we know you do) you might need a couple of days in shopping rehab on your return as they have everything on offer from tailors, leather goods, shoes, silver and some of the best hand made lacquer artwork you will ever find, there is something for everyone. The markets are open daily and there is plenty of local products and crafts to be found. If you are feeling the heat it’s not far to the river where you will find a bar or two, some great eating spots or somewhere just to sit and chill, recharging your batteries for round two. After dark, wandering around looking for somewhere to graze can be its own adventure. I can recommend two great eating spots Morning Glory which is one of the oldest and more traditional restaurants in Hoi An serving what they refer to as street food, this it is a must. The traditional cuisine has been handed down through three generations. There were 11 in our party with drinks and six courses which was more than enough and at $AUD18 a head, including tip is fantastic value.

For those who plan to stay a couple of days I can highly recommend to see the countryside by pushbike.

There are a numerous trips to chose from all day, half day and for the less fit, an hour or two will be enough. The majority of the countryside is flat making for easy riding although if you are not a seasoned cyclist you may want to take one of the shorter trips.

From the Old Town heading towards Cua Dai Beach along the river only 3km is the SON Restaurant, a nice place for short break and cool drink, I can also recommend the smoothies here, very refreshing!

We were fortunate enough to have our own tour guide; an Australian girl Amy, who has lived and worked in Hoi An for the past 4 years. Taking us off the beaten track for our own adventure along the river and through the rice fields and finishing up at An Bang Beach (Cam An) for lunch at the Italian Restaurant Luna D’autunno where the food was old style Italian and a terrific meal was had by all. Local tip: When parking your bike at An Bang Beach use the shed on the left side of the road. They will look after your bike for 2000 dong, about 10 cents, but don’t be alarmed when the parking attendant gives you a Hug as that is his name and that is how he got it.

With lunch done and dusted and a bit weary we took the short cut home 40 minutes later we were back at the Hotel for a swim, a spa, followed by an icy cold Tiger Beer.

Between Hoi An and Da Nang lies the incredible Marble Mountains which are a must see. Take the Thang May elevator up to were you will find an amazing array of caves and pagodas to explore. Make sure you make the effort and explore Dinh Troi cave where you can crawl up through the middle of the mountain. Yes, it might be a bit tight in places, but quite safe. Good footwear makes it easier. The reward is what the Vietnamese call “Heaven’s Gate” with spectacular views up and down the coast.

For those of you not so energetic explore the Huyen Khong Cave, they call it Hell – WHY? During the Vietnamese War it was used as a hospital, unfortunately, it was bombed during the war with great loss of life. I will not tell you what is down there, but do yourself a favour, take the time to have a look, especially on a sunny day. If you want to buy a marble statue and send it home they will look after shipping and everything for you, just another added bonus.

I found the weather in February and March to be mild, cool at night, and days 24 degrees and sunny. From April onwards it starts to heat up, so pack your bags, be on your way, it is cheap and you will have a great time.

Don’t forget the fun you have is only limited by what you do.

This month GURU’S travel tip: Always wear good walking shoes. You might look like a tourist – but hey, I think they already know.