Hoi An

Sunday afternoon in the old city

Hoi An is the ultimate tourist city. Known as the first colonial port city in Viet Nam, the old city preserved its colonial buildings and roadways. The narrow streets of old Hoi An are always overflowing with tourists throughout the day but more so at 3 PM and after, and double on weekends, according to our host.

Riverboat rides are plentiful

Lager boats loading and unloading passengers constantly

People watching from a Pub

The nights are very lively and vibrant with lots of colorful lanterns lighting the streats and boats along the river.

Lantern lights from across the river

A restaurant boat lit up at night

Shopping

With all the tourist comes lots of vendors trying to use all the tricks in the book to get you to part with your money. One famous trick we got caught with...we refused to buy an offering of fruits from a vendor who proceeded to invite Prov to hold shoulder rack to take a picture. We did and Prov happily poses for Sherry to take the picture. Before we knew it we were conned into buying fruits and pay for the picture. We pushed back on her original asking price but relented on her 2nd offer. We still paid 3-times more than the cost in the market.

Stores are not much better. Things are overpriced so be ready to haggle and or walk away.  Be  prepared for them to walk along with you...they want that sale more than you might want the product. And don't promise that you will stop by on your way back. They will be waiting and looking for you. A lot of the locals on the streets are solicitors for the numerous businesses, ready to take you to their shops or places of business to sell you something you didn't know you want. Be prepared to say no. An invitaion into a store is a plea to buy ssomething. It is always a slow day or "happy hour"...very cheap price.

We also got approaced by the Karma group (they are "not" a timeshare, but they really are). We went along with it for 2 plus hours for a free cap and a 1 week vacation coupon before we walked out.  The sales person was visibly disappointed because he failed to convinced us that we need to join the club, even though we told him right up front we were not buying anything. Prov wore the cap today so when another salesman came along we could say already did it.