Because I am fine again now I will let you all into a secret 🤣🤣
As we sat waiting for the bus to leave Sapa I began to shiver and feel ill. I slept on the bus journey to the train station and then couldn’t wait to get on the train and lie down. This was The Sapalay Express night train and we had a VIP cabin booked. I had been looking forward to this experience for months!!

 

We found our cabin, I put my head on the pillow and that was that! Andy says that the train stopped a few times in the night but I wouldn’t know. We got a taxi back to Hanoi Old Town Palace Hotel. It was 6am and the rooms all full so we sat in reception (I slept) Alice the receptionist was so good and as soon as the people left our room she let me go to bed. I slept all day, I was hot, I was cold, I was sweating, I felt so ill 😟😟 I have no idea at all what caused this.
So the next day I tried and we wandered to the lake. Andy got interviewed for TV and they took his name for a newspaper article about the new underground intended to be built in Hanoi. They definitely need one!

Then a visit to the Pagoda on the lake, where I sat in the shade sipping water as Andy took photos around the place. A tour around the city on an electric buggy shows just how busy this place is.
Then enough was enough and back to bed it was 🙁🙁 I just felt so ill. Poor Andy, another night eating alone! He went to the pharmacy and they said “She just needs paracetamol”
The next morning we were leaving for our flight to Danang and then a taxi to Hoi An for 5 nights in The Countryside Moon Homestay. I was worried I wouldn’t make it. Andy packed the rucksacks and sorted everything bless him 😍😍

 

 

I managed the journey and we were soon at our Homestay and it was a very warm welcome and our room is in the family house. We have an en suite shower room, air conditioning, fridge with water, beer and soft drinks in (to be paid for) a TV, free wifi and even a hairdryer!! With breakfast included and it’s £12 per night for two of us 😍We were staying here for 5 nights so I was hoping to chill a little and get better quickly.
The next morning after we took the Homestay bicycles and headed into Old Hoi An with a stop at a pharmacy on the way. She was a lovely lady and I soon had tablets for morning, afternoon and evening 😂😂 I knew 3 of them but the fourth I’m not sure what it was. But they did seem to work 😍😍

We spent the day wandering around the old town and riverside, taking regular drink/rest stops along the way. I even bought a hat 😂😂 This place is lovely and a very “in” place to go to. It was named as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. Tailor shops line the streets alongside leather shops.

 

 

You can walk in any and just say what you would like making, from shorts to suits, sundresses to evening gowns. They will measure your feet and make you shoes or sandals.
The Homestay bicycles were well used during our stay, they got us everywhere. 😀
We visited Cam Thahn Village and took a trip in a small round bamboo boat along the river to coconut island 🌴 We saw fishermen throwing their fishing nets. The locals were putting on displays of spinning their boats as the they stood in them to some rather loud music.

 

The following day we cycled to the beach and WOW it was huge! We went along until we found a lovely spot. Two gorgeous sun loungers, table and parasol hired for the day with waitress service for any drinks you desire and all that with a wonderful view included for £2!! It was so relaxing and the weather was just right. Andy braved the waves for a swim but I just paddled.

 

We had been recommended a restaurant in Hoi An by the young French couple we met on our Halong Bay boat trip. So we were on a mission to find it. “Bale well” I must say Andy did very well leading the way and suddenly we were there and everyone knew that is where you wanted to go. We were led to a table in a courtyard, it was busy and as we sat down we were asked what we would like to drink and told “it’s a set meal” Then suddenly food began to appear on our table from every angle 😂😂 It really was so funny.

A waitress then came along and gave us a lesson on how to prepare 2 different wraps from the food in front of us. There was peanut and chilli sauce to dip in. It was scrumptious and there was loads. This was followed by a small dessert. With beers and water, the bill was £10.
Andy went off at the crack of dawn (5:50am) to take photos in the old town before the tourists arrived and as you can see it was definitely worth it.

 

 

In the old town of Hoi An there are many buildings, museums, monuments and bridges to visit. You buy a pass that has 6 tickets on and they just snip one away each time you visit one of these places. The pass was 120,000 Vietnamese dong (£4)
Hoi An in an evening transforms into a beautiful lantern lit town.

 

The river, bridge, shops, restaurants and all along the streets lanterns are hanging in every colour.
Andy had seen a shirt he liked in one of the tailor shops and so we ventured in to enquire. He chose two patterns in the material he liked and was quickly measured up, after a little bartering with the friendly young girl, two shirts were ordered and would be ready to pick up at 5pm that afternoon and it was 11.30am!! We spent the day sightseeing and returned at 5pm. They were ready and fit perfectly. (They would have done alterations if needed) 😀😀

 

 

On our final evening in Hoi An we arranged to meet up with a Dutch couple we met trekking in Sapa, Paulien and Micele. Well we arranged to meet at the bridge, only their taxi driver dropped them off at the wrong bridge and about 1km out of town!! 😂😂 They had heard so much about Hoi An and thought it didn’t look so good 😂😂
Finally we met up and had drinks and chats. I am sure we will keep in touch in the future. 😀😀
Our last morning at the Homestay. Breakfast was lovely as usual. The bags got packed and amazingly everything managed to fit. The car and driver arrived and off we went for another flight.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) next stop on the adventure.

Be safe, be healthy, be happy.

Carol & Andy