Viet-blog - Da Nang and Hoi An

Da Nang.  What to say about Da Nang???

The highlights, for a start.  

Kiddo loved the beach, but she’s part fish (we think) so that’s always a perk for her.

There was the Marble Mountains and the cave adventure.

A shave and a haircut.

Having custom shoes and clothing made in Hoi An.

Burgers, coffees, and tacos… even leaving our mark on the wall.

East West Brewery and the food and beers, but also 7 Bridges and the time out we took there.

There was even a big ass and colorful Hummer.

Let’s start with the bad, however.  The house and views were great.  The owner and his family, not so much.  The kid walked in once and so we started locking the door at all times.  There was the next day with the banging on the door and demanding to see Kiddo because “My daddy owns all this and I demand it.”  On top of that, they were always around and even if we were walking out and had a car waiting, they would engage and try to make plans.  The house and views were great, but Kiddo’s room door wouldn’t latch, so it needed to be locked to stay closed.  And the master bath, some of the cabinets weren’t finished and they were help in place my tape.  The views were great and J and I had a blast at night sipping on some beers and just watching the night fishermen.  

The other bad was location.  It wasn’t really near anything and the owner didn’t really know where anything was.  Nearest ATM… Ummmmm????  Nearest market…. Ummmmmm???  Beach towels, toys, and sun umbrella for a beach house… Nope, didn’t have or know where to get.  Dude!!!!!  Maybe you know that kind of stuff for visitors coming in.  To an OBVIOUS destination area.  Maybe you plan ahead and map that kind of stuff out, or include it in a package.  That, however, is a small complaint for an otherwise great time.

The beach is the beach.  Can’t really say much.  Sand.  Water.  Sun.  Kiddo playing.  Early or late, you can see her joy at just being Beach Kiddo.

The Marble Mountains and the caves we saw… Breathtaking.  The pictures do it no justice.  The level of human ingenuity and resourcefulness that went into these caves.  The age of them.  J and I both had goosebumps at different points.  Then, taking the elevator up and seeing the pagodas and temples that are hundreds of years old.  That the area and the mountains were used as a military training area from 1500ish until post Vietnam war is also something that boggled my mind.  Just walking in the weather was draining.  Training and running and carrying and all that.  Nope!  It was a testament to the people of Vietnam.  It was a marvel of human strength and will.

I didn’t shave before we left and my beard was getting a bit long.  Long enough that I was almost chewing on my mustache.  Vietnam is renowned for its barber shops, so I though, what the hell and gave it a try.  Ordered a bike and headed out.  The place I found on Google was 4.9 with over 1500 reviews.  Good enough for me.  The bike showed up and I got the helmet and off we went.  5 minutes later, we pull down a little alleyway and about 3/4th of the way down that, the bike stopped and let me off.  I gave him the helmet back and walked into this little two seat place.  A minute later, a guy walks in and looks at me and says, “Help you something?”  I ask for a shaved head and beard trim.  “Hat off.”  I took my hat off and he saw I didn’t have hair and then he nodded and ok and offered me a chair and told me, “Shirt.  Off.”  So, shirt off and then I’m draped in a barber’s cloth and he grabs a straight razor for my head.  He also did my cheeks and shaped my goatee a bit before trimming it down.  I looked and felt so much better after.  Since I was out, I wandered around and found a little cafe.  I indulged in a Vietnamese Coffee and just sat for 20 minutes.  Besides that, in Vietnam, every cafe we went into for coffee, when we stayed and didn’t get to go, we were given a very mild tea.  It wasn’t a green tea, but it was a chilled and cool tea.  That was always a nice refreshing treat to go with the coffee.

SIDE NOTE: I am picking this up 4 days later, we had a computer issue and needed repairs (battery) and that put us out of commission for a few days, but all seems to be back to good.  That was the tech issue I mentioned in a past post.

We traveled into Hoi An to see the Old Town area and go to a place that a friend of J’s had recommended for getting shoes made.  I got two pairs on leather loafers and J got a pair of sandals and a dressier shoe.  We also went to a clothing shop.  J got a really cute jumper and I got a new shirt.  Nothing too fancy for either of us, but J can go out and fancy it up or just have a nice teacher outfit and I can do the same; Date night or school function type stuff, or just to look a little better than shorts and a tee.  Pics to follow, but with travel and tech issues, we are a little behind on the pics and all that.  

Our first day in Hoi An, we walked and were measured and fitted, but then we found a little place called 7 Bridges Brewery and we stopped in for a pint.  Good beers!  Kiddo had a pineapple juice that was a delight as well.  We got a munchie while there, sour dough bread with miso butter.  It was a delight.  Going back a few days later to pick up the shoes and clothing, we found a Taco spot.  The food was good, but a little over priced for the portion, although if we could go back with friends and not care about money, I would love to just get a ton of food, some pitchers of beer and margaritas and just go wild.  Besides that, we did get to leave our mark.  :)

While on beer, it was so nice to be back in a place with a craft beer scene.  Vietnam is great for that and we found a few that we liked a lot.  In Da Nang there was East West and we had a dinner there.  J and I got a flight to split and got a chance to try to beers.  Really good.  I won the night with a ribeye cooked perfectly.  

We did a lot of burgers, but meat was available again and not at a premium.  Some good, some ok, but it was all world’s better than what we’ve found in BKK and when we can find good burgers in BKK, it’ll run us $60-65 for the bill.  In Vietnam, we we’re finding little local spots and paying $15-20.  Much more in line.  

We found two cool spots for coffee.  One, was very boutique and coffeecentric.  Quality was beyond amazing.  Also, it had a cool Koi Pond outside and seating boxes at water level.  We sat inside due to heat, but Kiddo and I did get to go and sit so she could show Poley what it was like.  The other place was amazing!!!!  It was a little back garden cafe.  Very serene.  Very calm.  Very chill.  The guy running it had great English and obviously Vietnamese, as he was local, but in talking to us, he asked where we are from.  I love this question these days, as we are FROM Bangkok.  That is our home right now.  So, I’ll tell people Bangkok and watch their reaction.  LOL  However, I mentioned BKK to this guy and then (like always) clarify that we are Californian (never American, Californian.  It makes a difference.). Well, he replied to us with a Sawadee Ka as he had lived in BKK for a short time.  If and when we are back in Da Nang, I’d certainly go again.  It was a nice little place and just makes me happy and full of smiles thinking about it.  

It was a blast and we all had a great time of it.  The days were full and we saw some things that will stick with us all forever.  Even the strange things, like this ridiculously big and bright Hummer that was cruising around the neighborhood.  The other car (not pictured) that was always parked near here belonging to the same crew of guys that was always hanging around, was a custom Ferrari.  

Also, I would be remiss to not mention the rooftop bar we went to one night.  Not the greatest food, but the views were great.

So far, between HCMC and Da Nang/Hoi An, we have no complaints and can’t wait to get back.  We woke on the last morning to pack and fly to Hanoi, but Kiddo seemed grumpy and out of it.  She had a gnarly bug bite on her arm, so we gave her some Tylenol and her allergy med and once we got to Hanoi, we planned to get some antibiotic gel for that.  It was a flight day, so thankfully, lil miss could just chill and take it easy.  The flight was easy, save for the people on it, but that’s a story for another day.  More next time.