Vietnam

Hoi An to Da Nang

Susan Neil

28 Jan 2024 — 4 min read

Dragon Bridge Da Nang breathing fire

Sadly the weather is getting much nicer here in Hoi An now that I am leaving … I will just have to come back.

I have organised a driver to pick me up at 12 to take me to my new accommodation in Da Nang. It is Mr Nguyen Binh, the same guy that I used the other day to bring me from the airport.

They are having a special meal here today to celebrate the end of the year and the Homestay mama has asked me to join them.

Quite a few visitors have come and I am assuming that they are family. There was a flurry of cooking in the kitchen and then they set up a table outside and a table inside with food and then all the men blessed the food individually. Not only did each man bless the food but then each item was waved through the insense smoke.

Cooking vietnam — Cooking, Melody Boutique Villa

There are funny looking chickens vietnam — There are funny looking chickens

Men blessing outside food, vietnam — Men blessing outside food

Then the men blessed the inside food, Hoi an, vietnam — Then the men blessed the inside food

After these blessings were done they cleared the tables and put the food back into the pots to reheat.

We sat down to eat and my bowl was filled up many times by the other guests, as was my glass.

Father inviting me to sit, Hoi an, vietnam — Father inviting me to sit

Children with good luck money, vietnam — Children with good luck money

I gave the tet, good luck money, envelopes to the Homestay mama and she gave them to the children. They wanted to take a photo outside. They were thankful and gave me hugs. Sadly I miscounted so the baby missed out … I don’t know where the other child came from.

I paid my bill and my car was waiting outside and Homestay Mama, Vicki, wanted a photo too.

Vicki at Melody Boutique Villa, Hoi An, Vietnam — Vicki at Melody Boutique Villa, Hoi An

Anyway my next hotel in Da Nang is only a 40 minute drive.

Euro Star Riverside Hotel, Da Nang, vietnam — Euro Star Riverside Hotel, Da Nang

Euro Star Riverside Hotel is very nice and luckily it has a lift as I am on the 7th floor.

I thought that my room would overlook the Dragon Bridge. It overlooks a bridge but it is not the dragon one. Also the balcony is just a small ledge that is showing cracks so I won’t be going out there.

View from my room, Da Nang, vietnam — View from my room, Da Nang

It is definately an interesting view though … lots to see. I can even see the planes on their approach to Da Nang Airport.

This is a pretty good room for $Aud22 per night. I have paid more and gotten less.

Euro Star Hotel, Da Nang, Vietnam — Euro Star Hotel, Da Nang

Dragon bridge Da Dang Vietnam — Dragon Bridge Da Nang

I went for a walk to the Dragon Bridge so that I know where I need to be at 9pm tonight when it starts breathing fire. They only do this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and as today is Sunday I need to make sure that I get there.

Evening view from my room in Da Nang — Evening view from my room

So I found a place to eat where I could view the dragon and ordered 3 tapas type dishes. I only ate one of them and had 2 beers while I waited. The cheese sticks were wonderful but the other two dishes were Ho hum.