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The Harbour
  • Tip Rating:
    • SirRichard
  • By SirRichard on October 1, 2003
  • Hoi An Page by SirRichard
    • Boats at the harbour - Hoi An
    Boats at the harbour
    by SirRichard
    Hoi An is nowadays 5 kms away from the coast. The coastline has changed and the river became too shallow for navigation, so Danang is a much better harbour now.
    But you can still see little fishing boats arriving to the harbour every morning to deliver the daily captures and sell them at the local market.

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    the price of the trip made more sense
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on January 25, 2005
  • Hoi An Page by richiecdisc
    • our trusty captain - Hoi An
    our trusty captain
    by richiecdisc
    At one point, we arrived at their home to drop off the little boy and, more importantly, pick up some souvenirs that we would hopefully buy. Now, the price of the trip itself made more sense, as well as their pointed questions about our other purchases, along with their prices. They were armed with the right products and what they figured were the right prices too. We braced ourselves for their sales pitch but found it softer than expected, especially after being manhandled in Hanoi. The items were overpriced and of little interest to us, obviously being typical Chinese knockoffs. We politely refused all the way back to the dock and gladly handed over our agreed upon fare. What was most surprising was their utter calm to our not making a purchase. In fact, they even said to come back again tomorrow. Okay, they probably just wanted another shot at us but it was offered up in such a friendly manner, we said we would think about it. (concluded below in Fondest Memory)

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    good for them, good for us
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on January 25, 2005
  • Hoi An Page by richiecdisc
    • another boat awaits you - Hoi An
    another boat awaits you
    by richiecdisc
    Once off the boat, I noticed our shoulders were a bit red from the sun. We had not had much sun since getting to Vietnam but it seemed now it would be a constant companion. We could get used to that, even our skin after some days with sun block. What we hoped to also get used to were more locals like these. We could deal with people trying to make a buck, that was human nature and more than understandable in a country wrought with poverty like Vietnam. But that they could be nice about it in spite of our not buying from them was a good thing all around. Good for us as it meant less stress. Good for them because we would tell our friends that it was not such a hassle here as we initially found it. And just maybe with this better treatment, we might buy something from them after all.

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    our little crew
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • Updated By richiecdisc on January 28, 2005
  • Hoi An Page by richiecdisc
    • say hello to our little friend - Hoi An
    say hello to our little friend
    by richiecdisc
    We were surprised at how friendly our little crew was, asking lots of questions about our travels along with what latter turned out ingenious ones about things we were wearing that we had bought in other places. They consisted of a mother with her little son and the grandmother doing most of the oar work. They even took a great shot of us with the boy who was certainly a little charmer. We enjoyed the trip more than we had figured on but soon worried about the time as we had bargained only for an hour trip. They did not seem to care about the time so much. (continued below in Fondest Memory)

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    a particularly nice slice of the pie
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on January 25, 2005
  • Hoi An Page by richiecdisc
    • life on the river sure can be pleasant - Hoi An
    life on the river sure can be
    pleasant
    by richiecdisc
    With the first setting sun of our Vietnam stay, we walked and snapped our way through the photo opportunity laden streets and finally down to the picture perfect waterfront. As it was the main congregating area for tourists, it was correspondingly full of more than its share of locals trying their best to sell some merchandise or service they were convinced you just had to have. One particularly interesting slice of this pie was the row boat women. They offered up scenic trips of the canals for what seemed impossible prices. Though generally more than skeptical of these types of deals, we nonetheless found it irresistible for the chance to take an up close photo of one of these haggard women as much as anything else we might chance upon once out on the water. (continued below in Fondest Memory)

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    the color band perspective
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on January 25, 2005
  • Hoi An Page by richiecdisc
    • our first sunny day in Vietnam - Hoi An
    our first sunny day in Vietnam
    by richiecdisc
    Hoi An offers lots of attractions and some tasty local delicacies but the true delight of this charming town is to wander its timeless streets.

    Though some travel locations like Berlin mentally take form in the gray hues of an old black & white photo, most of the tropical variety are flavored in full bright colors. Though impressed by the culinary delights of Vietnam, our first ten days in what I had imagined a lush green paradise were disappointingly lacking in visual vibrancy, at least from a color band perspective. But what a difference the golden rays of a setting sun and blue skies can make.

    Hoi An served up just this. It was as if we had crossed some imaginary border on our trip south from Hue and were finally transported to the land of what we had once imagined. Though teeming with tourists, the quaint town was charming not only in its picturesque simplicity but also for a population of less persistent applicants for our hard-earned dollars. (continued below in Fondest Memory)

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    Foreign Exchange in Hoi An
  • Tip Rating:
    • sailor_p
  • Updated By sailor_p on February 12, 2007
  • Hoi An Page by sailor_p
    • Banks are in abundance for foreign exchange - Hoi An
    Banks are in abundance
    for foreign exchange
    by sailor_p
    For currency usage, it is advisable to bring US currency to Hoi An. US currency is widely accepted at all places in Hoi An. Personally, I feel that it would be a good idea to change some of the currency to Vietnamese dong (VND). Somehow, I feel that VND really stretches your money further in Vietnam. Do remember that the local authority is also encouraging the locals to use VND. With VND, there is also more room for bargain!

    In Hoi An, it is easy to find banks everywhere. Rates are much better in banks as compared to hotels. During my stay, 1USD would get you 15,600VND. In Hoi An, other currencies are accepted at banks - GBR, THB, SGD, AUD etc. Every SGD1 would get me 9,600VND. Do not try to change too much VND at one go - remember that you cannot use VND elsewhere!

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    Easy Walking - Get a Map
  • Tip Rating:
    • sailor_p
  • Updated By sailor_p on February 12, 2007
  • Hoi An Page by sailor_p
    • Maps like this are easily available in hotels - Hoi An
    Maps like this are easily
    available in hotels
    by sailor_p
    The old town of Hoi An is relatively easy to walk - in fact, I personally find it much easier to explore the Hoi An Old Town than the Old Quarters in Hanoi. However, maps of Hoi An is easily available in all hotels. Do get a copy and start your walking adventure in Hoi An!

    Do note that a number of roads within the Old Town is closed to motorcars. This make walking for many people easy.

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    4-sight tour ticket
  • Tip Rating:
    • galy
  • Updated By galy on April 14, 2006
  • Hoi An Page by galy
    • Japanese bridge - Hoi An
    Japanese bridge
    by galy
    The standard way of seeing Hoi An's sights involves buying a 4-sight tour ticket ($5).
    This ticket allows you to enter four places, picking one place from each of: 3 museums, 3 assembly halls, 4 traditional houses and the Japanese Bridge.
    The Japanese Bridge is a public road and no ticket is necessary, but it's on the list anyway. It is possible to see a traditional house without the ticket by paying about 10,000D to the house owner, though some will charge more. To enter more than one place from each group, show the used ticket and pay an extra 10,000D

    The assembly halls are beautifully decorated and worth a visit.

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    Excuse me! This is Hoi An
  • Tip Rating:
    • muddybok
  • Updated By muddybok on December 1, 2006
  • Hoi An Page by muddybok
    • Hoi An - Hoi An
    Hoi An
    by muddybok
    For those of you who have visited Melaka (Malaysia), you may be mistaken that houses at Hoi An to be of Melaka. In fact the only similarities are they are old & gone through the war torn period.

    If you're into architecture, some of the older structures will sure make you spending hour observing structural details of these building. Remember, this is a UNESCO Heritage site, there sure have reason why they are listed in the list.

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    More Hoi An Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 96 - Photos: 114
    Things To Do
    Tips: 263 - Photos: 416    		Nightlife
    Tips: 21 - Photos: 19
    Transportation
    Tips: 36 - Photos: 30    		Restaurants
    Tips: 101 - Photos: 83
    Shopping
    Tips: 95 - Photos: 97    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 29 - Photos: 52
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 14    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 6
    Local Customs
    Tips: 28 - Photos: 34    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 1
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 4    		General Tips
    Tips: 32 - Photos: 37
    Flights
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 0
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