After getting stuck in Hoi An for 3 days longer than intended, our stop in Hue was brief. After we exited one 4 hour bus trip, and waiting to embark on a 15 hour bus trip we wandered inside the walls of the Imperial City for the Emperor. Astonishing because it was still in use some 20 years ago (I had remembered so much more information but not being able to reach good enough wifi for e past while its all gone). The effects of the war are still visible, but Vietnamese workers are constantly working to get it back to its original state.

So as if Asia hasn’t thrown enough spanners in the works… Collected my backpack from the bus today to find my entire clip which straps my backpack around my waist and makes my hips and legs take almost all the weight has been broken off cause the bus drivers (slash all vietnamese) are anything but gentle with your belongings. Can’t walk with my pack on without shooting pains in my shoulders and back…the next 5 weeks should be fun!

So Hoi An has been my favourite place so far in Vietnam (aside from the stress of the tailor) I could wander the lantern filled streets forever and still be in awe. This town has absolutely my pockets dry of money because its filled to the brim with artwork and amazing souvenirs. I have a package of small lanterns on its way home, 5 big lanterns some now stuffed into my bag and a huge bag to carry tailor made clothes, shoes, more bigger lanterns, and other odds and ends I’ve been picking up along the way (sorry jay…). There is currently a massif typhoon on its way tonight which wrecked havoc on the Philippines so we made the call at 6am this morning not to motorbike the next leg, so the girls and I are stuck here (thankful we made this choice because its currently raining a lot) hoping that we will be able to get out of here and the entire way up to Hanoi tomorrow, provided its not flooded, we’ve got 19 hours worth of bus trips ahead of us. Wish me luck!

..and evidently party shirt night with the boys new tailor made party shirts

The only town not to be ruined in the Vietnam war, there is something truly amazing wandering these streets (aside from the hundreds of lanterns). Filled with beautiful architecture and streets where only pedestrians can wander. Barbara and I explored the old town at sunset whilst the lanterns slowly begun to come on and the air began to cool.

All in all, this trip was FANTASTIC. Though it was more a culinary tour and stuff-your-face-with-a-four-course- meal trip (honestly you can’t travel Vietnam and enjoy its full potential on a diet, or without loving food!) we ate incredible meals and saw how a lot of the meals we have been eating were made. We’re now equipped with all the knowledge we need to make these dishes at home, plus more and I’ve seen yet another beautiful side of Hoi An. If it wasn’t already love at first sight, I’m now head over heels hooked and in love.