China Beach and Hoi An

After 13 days in North Vietnam and the onset of cold weather, the mission was to find the beach and sunny weather. Like birds flocking south, we moved south to China beach. China beach was a popular R&R place for American soldiers during the Vietnam war. My friend and I stayed at local guesthouse 50 meters from the beach called Hoa's place. Hoa's Place is a legend among backpackers and there are guestbooks filled with backpackers logs to prove it. If you ever visit, I have a note in there too! Hoa's place is run by none other than Hoa and his wife. He offers a clean place, good food (try the local burger - burger with an egg and cheap beer with a laid back attitude. Some of his favorite english lines include "Take it easy man" and "Enjoy". Hoa was one of the most genuine Vietnamese I met in Vietnam. He makes you want to come back and visit, which many people do. Hoa's place is a home away from home.

About 20 km or 12 miles from China Beach is the city of Hoi An. Hoi An is mid-way between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It is adjacent to the Thu Bon river and has small french colonial buildings of differing colors. Hoi An has something for everyone. It is near the beach, about 3 km away. You can get tailored clothes for cheap prices - a tailored suit cost about $50 and takes about a day to be made. A variety of small restaurants that offer local cuisine and almost any type of food you are jonesing for, even swedish meatballs. There are numerouse bars offering cheap drinks and a relaxed ambiance. A fun town to visit and stay in.

On the outskirts of Hoi An, lies My Sun. My Sun was a religious centre back in the late 14th century. My lonely planet guide book raved about it. Although it sounds nice, my visit there was very disappointing because only part of the temples were still standing because the rest had been bombed by the American's during the war, nice.