Hoi An Warnings and Dangers

Getting on and off Vietnamese boats is very different to else where.

If you do the Cham Island tour, just be aware, that when getting on and off the boat at Cham Island, it is difficult if you are older, out of condition, short, or a woman!

When arriving at a the small jetty at Chong Beach, it wasn't too bad getting off, but on return, the tide had gone out, so the Boat was sitting high above the Jetty. Somehow you had to climb back onto the boat, with a push from somebody behind you and pull from above!

Its also a good idea to take something warm to put on for the return trip, AS it was very windy and everybody was frozen.

The seas were very rough too, so if you are inclined to get sea sick, I think you would on this trip.

Motor bikes, they are everywhere!

Here a just a couple of things you should be aware of.....

If using a Motorbike Taxi, and it rains, and quite often it is heavy rain, You may be a little bit uncomfortable in the wet weather cover!

Tours.......On my "My Son Tour", I was taken by motorbike to where the Tourist Bus departed.

I don't know what would happen if you didn't agree to this, (no previous notice of this going to happen) as it was a long walk, and the owners of the Travel Cafe didn't have a car, only a Motorbike!

One thing to remember not only in Hoi An, but all over Vietnam, is, IF YOU TAKE THEIR PHOTO, THEY PROBABLY WILL WANT MONEY.

The man in the photo did a "set - up display" of throwing a fish net in and then catching the fish, as you can see in the photo, it wasn't alive.

He then held his hand out to all the people on tour, wanting money.

I first arrived in Hoi An in January and that night ended up in the King Kong bar. Other than being quite small and a little grungy there didn't seem to be a lot wrong with the place. The free shots were certainly welcome and added to an already alcoholic night :D! However having lived in Hoi An since January I have become aware that the King Kong bar is not a particularly safe place to go. I've spoken to a few people who've gone there to make use of the free rum and coke between 10 and 11pm and when they've gone to leave they've had problems with the staff getting very aggressive and also turning violent. I know that when the alcohol flows tempers can rise and things get out of hand and also that some people go out looking for trouble but the people I've met who've had problems weren't those sort of people. A friend of mine got punched in the back of the head becuase he left after the free drinks finished, I also spoke to someone else who ended up with a hand around his throat because he left. There have also been reports recently of muggings and theft by the King Kong motodrivers. If you do go to the KK bar just be aware of problems people have had and keep an eye on your belongings.

Hoi An is a gorgeous town, I hope you enjoy your time there!

Pet-lovers should be aware that domestic pets in Vietnam are not necessarily accorded the same treatment as pampered felines elsewhere. For example, I was quite disturbed when seeing a clutch of newly-born kittens scampering around for safety among the rushing feet of Hoi An traders at the riverside market in Hoi An.

There was nothing my wife or I could do to ensure their safety - too many, no resources to take care of them - so we hurriedly turned away to avoid seeing anything we'd rather not! From a quick glance it already seemed as if one of the kittens may have suffered a broken leg.

Definitely not a sight for pet lovers like myself! So, be warned...

If you happen to be in Tam Tam bar and it's nearly closing time, and an Australian couple come in saying come to a bar that they know that is having a great party. Don't bother. There was a group of us and we were told that there were motos waiting downstairs to take us there. The first two would be free and the others would charge us 10,000 per bike. We got there first, no free ride. The moto driver demanded 30,000. Settled on 20,000. We told the Australian guy, he didn't seem to bothered. The bar was crap and over priced. It's a hostess bar. Don't bother with it.

We were talked into going to the King Kong Bar over the river from Tam Tam bar as there was supposed to be a great party there. We decided to leave as it wasnt great. It was a 5 minute ride back to where we wanted to be. We were asked for 40,000 to take us back. The rise should be 5000 max. We said that it was far too much, the moto driver wouldn't budge on the price. He said that as we were from the UK that it was not much over a pound and that we could afford it. I tried explaining that it is too much and we are travelling. So we walked away, another moto said 20,000. We accepted it, just to get away from there.

The Market Place (this is a mess of open air tables and stalls and baskets on the ground in the middle of Hoi An) is always crowded and colourful. For sure. But we were warned by several of the locals not to go there at all. They said it was not safe and one said that she lives in Hoi An and she doesn't go there.

To back this up, while we were there another Australian in our hotel had a nasty experience. She was walking alone in the Market when a motorbike came along and snatched at her bag held over her shoulder. She went down, they didn't get that bag but they did get the other one in her hand - with her cameras, jewellery, cash and cards. She broke her collar bone and chipped her knee.

To make it worse, the local police, who have been charged with cleaning up this problem, would not believe her (she took a local shopkeeper as a translator and the police started to yell at the local "why are you helping her, she's lying.." which was a bit awkward as the translator had to live there). The police would not provide her with a report for her insurance company. They kept saying it wouldn't be anyone from Hoi An.

Eventually she was evacuated by her insurance company.

Another couple had their wallets stolen by pickpockets in the Market - we were in Hoi An four days.

So be alert and aware, if you go into the markets...there are probably no bargains there for tourists, but it is interesting.