Hue to Hoi An

Friday March 5th

Lazed on beach in morning, but Christine complaining of stomach cramps and running a temperature. She has taken to bed until she feels better. Luckily we don't need to move for another three days.

Thursday March 4th

Panic as all other hotel guests were picked up and we were the only ones left, but a minibus eventually turned up half an hour late. As soon as we had boarded, two stern faced policemen swooped on the driver and we waited a further quarter of an hour as lengthy paper forms were meticulously completed and signed for some unknown infraction he had committed.

Rather going to than the bus station as we had expected, the rather fed up driver turned into a side street where a big coach was parked. When we boarded, to our surprise there were no seats inside. Instead the interior was arranged for sleeping, and we travelled quite comfortably though lounging on day beds which felt strange.

We drove southwards through increasingly mountainous scenery until passing through a long tunnel, the road descended to the sea before Da Nang.
From here the coastal road followed a 35km long beach which is being developed as holiday residences and resorts.

Reached Hoi An at lunchtime and took taxi to 'Sea and Sand Hotel' at Cua Dai, a beach village 5km from Hoi An itself. The hotel is comfortable with spacious rooms, only 50m from the white palm fringed beach, and has a free minibus transit service to the town running several times a day.

Walked for miles on beach, pausing to watch fishermen walking in the sea with nets on poles and being completely submerged as the crests of waves passed over them. Not many people about but quite a southerly breeze blowing.