From Hoi An To Hue

We spent the morning wandering around Hoi An and it is equally picturesque by daylight. The main photo shows the Japanese Covered Bridge, probably the town's most famous landmark. For centuries Hoi An was a major trading port, originally for the spice trade, and there were large Chinese and Japanese communities living alongside the native Cham people. a number of the original Merchants' houses are still scattered around the streets.

By late morning we set off for our next stop, Hue, stopping off at a beachside restaurant in Da Nang (see beach in extras) for lunch. W e also visited the Museum of Cham Sculpture, from outside of which I took the view of the modern Dragon Bridge in extras.

Our journey to Hue took us over a spectacular mountain pass and dowm into more fertile rice fields. Hue is a much bigger city than Hoi An. The last Imperial capital its main attraction is the Citadel which we saw floodlit by night on a bicycle rickshaw of the city, culminating in another excellent meal.

The final extra shows our party all lined up in our rickshaws; all we need is blankets over our knees to look like a group of oldies on a trip out from the nursing home :)