"Graceful,historical Hoi An

is Vietnam's most atmospheric  and delightful town...beguiling riverside setting..."[Lonely Planet}
Hoi An is a UNESCO world heritage  since 1999.
Japanese covered bridge built over a steam in 1593 connects  Japanese and Chinese districts.
The old house of Tan Ky was built to withstand floodwaters  in the rainy season.The exterior of the roof  is made of tiles,inside  the ceiling  is made of wood.This keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter.Tan Ky house has been preserved through seven generations.
17th century Phuoc Kien Temple is dedicated to  Thien Hau,goddess of the sea and patrons of sailors and fishermen.
The China beach is a stretch of 30 km of white sand.It is not politically correct to call it  the China beach, but My Khe,at least that is what the 6 km  near Da Nang is named as My Khe is practically a suburb of  Da Nang
Marble Mountains are just off the China Beach Rd.Mountains have five tops with pagodas on the highest level.The residents of the  villages at the foot of the mountains work with marble and the creations are delightful,but even the  minute ones are too heavy,being marble,and the jewellery I found too old fashioned.I almost liked some, but not enough to buy.
Many restaurants, shops, hotels in Hoi An do not have English speaking staff, getting a freshly pressed  fruit juice had turned into a farce and in the end it was easier to walk out.
We had stopped in a couple of shopping outlets,one specialising in making and selling silk items and lanterns.  I  looked at black trousers,but did not like the shape  of one pair,and there was nowhere to try the ones I liked,so gave them a miss.In the other shop there were pyjamas I liked very much and wanted to buy them in  deep red to wear  separately  in the evening [yes, teaming them with different  items and wear not in bed, but to a restaurant,etc.],but could not find anywhere to pay for them,so good-bye pyjamas.
The English of the tour guide - the very expensive tour booked by Cunard - was awful,his mannerisms strange,no rhyme or reason to anything he was saying and not even  half way through it all I lost the will to live.Had he kept quiet the heat and the  often bumpy two hour ride to Hoi An and two hour ride  back wold have been more bearable.And then there was the most obnoxious Australian couple to listen to, he of the loud voice commenting on anything and everything,most of it crap in the first degree,she adding to the misery with her nonsensical  shrieks.Oh,Ozzies, when you are good,you are very good, but when you are bad, you are awful.
The magic of Hoi An made up for all the misery en route.
One day I would like to return and see a it all again.