Da Nang to Hanoi

This morning after breakfast we checked out of Saha Casa Boutique Hotel. That’s where we stayed for our five nights in Da Nang. It was a very nice hotel and the staff was fantastic..

Saying good bye to Stacy and Tom at our hotel in Da Nang

We took a Grab to the airport. (Grab is the Vietnamese equivalent of Uber.) Then we flew Viet Jet to Hanoi. In Hanoi we took another Grab car to our hotel in the center.

Our hotel

After resting a bit we went out for a walk along the lakeshore across from the hotel. It was very hot and humid so we didn’t go very far.

The lake

This evening we went to a Jazz concert not too far from the hotel.. It was a good day.

At Binh Minh Jazz Club.

Da Nang, Day 5

We woke up to beautiful blue sky this morning. It was the first cloudless sky we have had since New Zealand. Today was museum day. We started at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture. The Champa Culture was in Southern Vietnam from the 2nd through the 19th centuries.

Statue of Gajasimha from the 12th century.

Then we went to the Da Nang museum. It was all about the history of Da Nang over the centuries.

Da Nang during the Prehistoric Era
Da Nang during the resistance war against American Aggression (1954-1975)

Finally we went to the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum

Moon over the perfume river, 1999, Woodcut.
Our dinner

For dinner we went to a Michelin listed restaurant, Bép Cuôn. We had to wait about 35 minutes for a table. We had a very tasty meal.

Da Nang, Day 4

We had another day in Da Nang without rain. We even had some sun! This morning we went for a long walk along the waterfront. At out turnaround point we stopped for iced Vietnamese coffee.

On our walk
The view from our coffee stop.

It was very hot and humid again today. We were each dripping wet from sweat when we got back to the hotel.

This afternoon two of the very friendly and helpful young people who work at the front desk asked us if they could interview us for a school project. We had a very fun conversation.

For dinner we went to a restaurant called Nha Hàng Madame Lán and had a fantastic meal.

Here we are at our table.
We had spring rolls, squid, beef and fried shrimp. All this plus two gin and tonics cost us $63!

Their equivalent of Uber here is called Grab. It makes getting around so quick and easy.

Da Nang, Day 3

We had a busy and enjoyable day. It was very hot and humid, but it didn’t rain. Thank goodness. This morning we walked to the Han River to check out the Dragon Bridge.

The Dragon Bridge on the Han River

This afternoon a guide picked us up and gave us a tour. We visited the Lady Buddha, a 220 foot statue set in the grounds of the Linh Ung Pagoda.

The Lady Buddha

Then we went to the Marble Mountains. There are 5 limestone and marble hills. We climbed into several of the caves in Water Mountain. It was hot and very humid. Sweat was dripping off me. The caves were used by the Viet Kong during the Vietnam war and have multiple Buddhist altars

The Buddhist temple inside the biggest cave.

Next was the town of Hoi An, about an hour south of Da Nang. Hoi An is an ancient trading port. We had tea. Then, when it was dark, we walked along the river and watched the boats and floating lanterns. Finally we had an authentic Vietnamese dinner.

Waiting for our tea
Lanterns and boats on the river in Hoi An
Tony, our guide mixing the noodles for our Authentic Vietnamese dinner. The dish in the middle is greens, peanuts and sea snails

Da Nang, Day 2

This morning Duke changed some money and then got a haircut. the barber did a very good job and with tip it cost him $5.77!

Duke getting his haircut.

This afternoon Duke booked a tour for tomorrow. Then we went out for a walk along the beach.

Booking the tour
On the beach

We stopped and had lunch at one of the places overlooking the beach.

Lunch
Lunch – Prawns in garlic sauce and chicken with cashews

For dinner we went to Nhà Bėp Xúa, a place recommended by our hotel.

Dinner, Seafood pineapple fried rice, Spring rolls and Noodles with grilled pork. The ladies next to us were from Russia.