Category: Asia

My A to Z Travel Challenge D is for Da Nang, Dalwallinu and Denmark

Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang, a coastal city in Central Vietnam is a place we’ve visited a few times as it’s relatively easy to fly to from Perth.  Also the airport is very near the coast, which means you can be on the beach by lunchtime!  The coastline stretches for 30 kilometres and has many resorts lining the road.  Our first stay here was in a hotel not on the beach but across a very busy road and it seemed that we had chosen a spot very popular with the locals.  When we went over for our first swim there was hardly an empty spot in the sea!

The view from our hotel window

Da Nang is halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the South and Hanoi in the North. It’s a good place to spend a few days before heading off to either Hue a few hours North or Hoi An in the South.  In fact most hotels in Da Nang offer a shuttle service to Hoi An.

We caught a taxi to the Novotel in the city and took some photos overlooking this busy city, in contrast to the stunning peaceful coastline.

Da Nang is definitely a place I will be visiting again.

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Dalwallinu, Western Australia

We visited Dalwallinu on a wildflower road trip in September a few years back.  It is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, around 250 km from Perth.  Dalwallinu is the first town on the wildflower tour.  Every year the wildflowers start appearing anytime from June in the North and sweeping south to finish in November.  We stayed one night in Dalwallinu and another in Moriwa.  The flowers are incredible and appear all over the roadside and grow in the harshest of conditions.

Perth to Dalwallinu

Enjoying happy hour in the delightful surrounds of our accommodation with smoke billowing from a bonfire in an upturned oil barrel!

We had to keep stopping along our drive because there were so many beautiful views.

A pig look alike tree
A carpet of purple flowers

The circular flowers are known as Christmas wreaths and seem to flourish in these sandy conditions.

If you ever visit Australia during these months this is certainly a tour worth doing, but be sure to book accommodation early as there are very few motels or hotels along the way and they get booked up very quickly.

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Denmark, Western Australia

Finishing with another place in Western Australia, this time way down south.  Denmark is over 400 km from Perth, too far for a day trip but great for a weekend or mid week break.  We have travelled to Denmark a few times in the time we have lived in Australia. There are wonderful wineries to visit and it’s a good place to visit Walpole where the Valley of the Tree Tops walk is located.

It was named Denmark after a naval surgeon, Alexander Denmark in 1829. Before this it was called Leeuwin’s Land after the Dutch East Indiaman, Leeuwin.  This was back in 1622.  Any sailing ship in the 1600’s was called a Dutch East Indiaman.

There are so many rental properties in Denmark it’s hard to know what to choose.  We booked a cute little house in the middle of the forest.

As you can see by the photos we went in the middle of winter, but we had a cosy fire in the house we rented.

Some of the birds that came to the balcony every morning waiting to be fed. 

Some from our morning walk.  Hubby contemplating another 25 years with me 😆
And that’s not our house, just a ramshackle shed in the middle of the woods. 

Wrapped up warm against the chilly weather! 

And D is done!

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A Day Trip to Macau

In December while we were in Hong Kong for a week we had a day out in Macau.  Macau is very easy to travel to from Hong Kong for a day, overnight or more.  It was a Portuguese Colony until 1999 when it was returned to China.  This city still retains much of its Portuguese influence with many of the buildings having been restored and renovated over the years.  It has a reputation of being the Las Vegas of Asia with the most number of casinos outside of Las Vegas.  But that is not why we decided to spend the day here!  Macau is rich in history and has numerous restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from.

The Grand Lisboa by day and night

We headed out from out hotel around 10.30 and took a taxi to the ferry terminal in time to catch the 11.15 am Jetfoil to Macau.  There is now a bridge across the two cities.  We decided against the bridge even though it says it only takes 45 minutes to cross by the shuttle bus provided.  This time does not factor in immigration at both sides and other stops along the way.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Zhuhai section of the bridge
(Source: Zhang Youqiong/For China Daily)

This is the world’s longest sea spanning bridge and measures 55km.  Construction began in December 2009 and it was first open to the public in October 2018.

Our first stop of the day was to have lunch.  We wanted to go back to one of our favourite restaurants – Fernando’s in Hac Sa Beach, on Coloane Island.  This restaurant is always packed and we hadn’t booked!  But as usual with any Asian restaurant they will always find you a table.  We had a bit of a wait but preferred to sit in the main dining area rather than at the front.  We have been going here for many years and it seems nothing has changed – in a good way.  The food is always delicious and service fantastic.

I had to post this picture of the foosball table as I can remember this being here since we first visited in 1990.  Whether it is the same one I have no idea.

A delicious traditional Portuguese lunch and of course Portuguese wine!

After lunch we had a short walk along Hac Sa Beach and then took a bus back onto the Macau Peninsula.  Macau is made up of three islands, Coloane, Taipa and Macau Peninsula.

Hac Sa Beach, Macau

Hac Sa Beach, Macau

From where the bus dropped us off we walked up to the Guia Fortress. The fort and chapel were constructed between the 1622 and 1638 and the lighthouse around 1864.  It is now a UNESCO World heritage site.

Typical painted apartment buildings and the Guia Fort

It was quite a walk up there for me anyway!  But once at the top it was definitely worth it.
The bridge below is the Taipa Bridge connecting Taipa to Macau Peninsula

 

The bell outside Guia Chapel, established by Clarist nuns

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Guia Fort, Macau

On our walk back into town we stopped to walk through the Chapel of St. Michael, built in 1875 it has a beautifully landscaped cemetery.

 

Then into the town to the ruins of St. Paul.  This is now just a facade as it the church itself was destroyed by fire in 1835.  Although is it still quite majestic to look at.

 

Ruins of St. Paul, Macau

Close by is the beautiful St. Dominic’s Church. Founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. (Source:  Macau Tourism)

St. Dominic's Church, Macau

Senado Square 

There is so much more to do and see in Macau but I think we had exhausted ourselves by now and were in need of drinks and food.  After much debate with a reluctant taxi driver we ended up outside the AIA Tower.  A quick look at Google and I saw that Sky 21 was located at the top.  We were just going to stay for a cocktail or two but after seeing the view decided to stay for dinner also.

 

It was an extremely busy day and you can only do so much in one day but I think we gave our visitors a good idea of Macau and how different it is from Hong Kong, not just culturally but architecturally too.   It’s a 24 hour city so there was no problem for us getting a ferry back at 11 pm.

For now Macau – a despideda

 

Sai Kung, Hong Kong – where East meets West

Sai Kung is a place like no other it’s as if time has stood still.  There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front.  It is located in the New Territories in Kowloon and can be reached by public transport from Hong Kong Island.  You can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and while away an afternoon in this oasis of peace and tranquility.

Most people when they visit Hong Kong don’t get the chance to leave the city as it’s usually just a two or three day stopover.  They leave thinking Hong Kong is just made up of high rises and skyscrapers, whereas in fact there are so many country parks and beaches.

During our week in December we spent the afternoon in Sai Kung, showing our friends the village where we used to live.

We walked through the old village first, where you’ll find small grocery and hardware stores amongst private residences.

Tin Hau Temple

 

Walking through the old village

Along the waterfront there are many small boats and sampans waiting to ferry you over to the islands surrounding Sai Kung.  Here you will also find many seafood restaurants with huge tanks with live fish.

An old man tending to his pots held up by ramshackle planks

Customers can buy any type of seafood and take it along to the local restaurants to be cooked how they like

There is a small square where there are many European restaurants, which is why Sai Kung is so popular at the weekend.  There are huge traffic jams on a Sunday evening when all the islanders drive back.

We had dinner at a place called Big Fish, as you can see there were other things on the menu besides fish!

A sculpture on the waterfront

Getting here

There are several ways to get to Sai Kung.  On the MTR from Central you can either alight at Tseung Kwan O MTR  and take a mini bus or from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Choi Hung MTR and also take a mini bus.

We had a wonderful time living in Sai Kung for many years. I love going back to visit to see how time has stood still with many of the restaurants and shops we visited still going strong.  Obviously some things have changed but not as much as so many other places in the world.

 

A review of Hyatt Centric, North Point, Hong Kong – formerly Hotel Vic

This is the second time we have stayed in this hotel but first time for a review by me!  It was in December so there was a great Christmassy feel to the hotel.
Hyatt Centric is located in North Point on Hong Kong Island.  North Point is becoming more popular as a place to stay.  We like it here because it’s not as busy as Central or Kowloon.  Everywhere is easily accessible from here, the MTR and a ferry terminal are within five minutes walking distance.  There is also a tram line nearby.

The hotel is split into two towers, East and West.  The west tower has the restaurants situated in it, the Cruise Bar on 23rd floor, The Farmhouse cafe on the 2nd floor and a coffee shop.  In the east tower there are the rooftop infinity pool and fitness centre.  There is an open air area on the 23rd floor for drinks and nibbles with fantastic views of the Hong Kong skyline.  I would say this hotel is a good four star hotel, if you consider the Marriot, Grand Hyatt and The Icon are five stars.

The rooms are fairly spacious for Hong Kong hotels and all have floor to ceiling windows with views across the harbour.

The lobby is airy and spacious and checking in and out is a breeze with friendly and helpful staff.

The first three floors are taken up with shops.  Designer shoes and jewellery and all the high end cosmetics.

There is a lovely waterfront promenade just outside the hotel where you can see the local people doing their exercises and tai chi.

North Point is the hub for many Chinese and Asian restaurants.

The views from the room across the harbour

 

The bathroom is on the small side but everything is well appointed and they have thought of everything!  Even a great make-up mirror.

The amenities drawer

The lobby and surrounding areas of the hotel

 

The Farmhouse Cafe

We had a buffet breakfast here every day.  There is a fantastic hot food section where eggs are cooked as you like.  Also fresh fruit, cereals, all kinds of bread, cold meats and cheeses are served.

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Magnificent Ginger Bread House in the Coffee shop

Up on the 23rd floor there is a roof top bar with open seating area, plus Cruise restaurant which has a diverse Asian menu.  It’s a great place to start your evening, overlooking the harbour with a cocktail.

 

Some of the dishes on offer at Cruise Restaurant

Sweet and sour Pork
and
Snapper in Banana Leaves

 

The rooftop infinity pool 

It’s always nice to stay in a hotel with a pool especially in the summer in Hong Kong.  There aren’t that many hotels with decent outside pools, so this is a bonus!  Well, unless you can afford the high end five star hotels of course.

We will definitely be using this hotel again during our travels to Hong Kong

A December Week in Hong Kong

Despite the current turmoil and upheaval in Hong Kong, we still decided to visit this diverse and wonderful city.  Having lived here over ten years ago, this time we had brought along our good friends and neighbours from Perth.  We only came across one protest during our stay, although we did see evidence of the destruction that has been caused.

Hong Kong – a city with a population of over 7 million is home to many different nationalities making it a truly international city.  Located in Southern China and surrounded by the South China Sea.  Most of the population live either on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, although some live on the outlying islands of Lantau, Cheng Chau and Lamma.

From the airport there are many ways into the city, we took a taxi, but there are airport buses and an express train.

The trees below are all real and also the poinsettias.

Arriving in the early morning from an overnight flight
Crossing over the bridge
A blurry shot from the taxi of the bridge!

There are so many things to do in Hong Kong and we only had a week to do it in!

We stayed at the Hyatt Centric formerly Hotel Vic in North Point (a review of this hotel to come).

Hong Kong in December is a great time to visit.  The weather is cooler with no humidity and all the buildings are dressed up to the nines with Christmas lights.  Everywhere you look there are Christmas trees and decorations all competing for attention.

 

One morning we took a ferry just outside the hotel over to Hung Hom, Kowloon and then walked along the new promenade to Tsim Sha Tsui East.  It’s a lovely walk and was surprisingly very empty for a Sunday.  We realised later this was due to a protest being organised somewhere else in Kowloon.  A sunny but hazy day.

 

The Hung Hom Promenade

We saw many of these small tents along the way and these are what the domestic helpers use on a Sunday to enjoy their day off.

This promenade takes you right along to the Avenue of Stars on Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront.

Bruce Lee and Anita Mui both famous Hong Kong actors, sadly now passed away

Anthony enjoying a little shopping spree!

Later that evening we took an evening cruise around Hong Kong Harbour on the famous Duk Ling Chinese Junk.  Built in Macau around 1955, it has been refurbished many times over the years.  It’s a great way to see the harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.  Tickets can be bought online or at the harbourside and include a guided tour and free drink.

 

 

Below are photos of the former Hong Kong Prison which is now an arts centre.  What an interesting place to visit, full of history and quirky shadows videos depicting how the prisoners were treated.  Located on Hollywood Road, Central.

 

Getting around Hong Kong

It’s extremely easy to travel around Hong Kong Island and over to Kowloon.  Just get yourself an Octopus card from an MTR station and you’re all set.  Public transport is not expensive in Hong Kong.  It can be used on the MTR, trams, buses, mini buses and ferries.  Top ups can be made at any 7-11 or MTR station.  The train goes all the way to the border with Shenzhen.  Octopus cards can also be used to buy small purchases in 7-11 and Watsons.

A designer decorated tram!

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Oil Street and Electric Street –
Many years ago this building in Oil Street used to be the old oil terminal and is now an Arts Centre.  The Government Printing works were also situated here.

The former Marine Police Headquarters, Canton Road

Pottinger Street Market – also know as Stone Slab Street – named after the first Governor of Hong Kong, Henry Pottinger – 1858

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We also spent a few days outside of Hong Kong in Lantau, Macau and Sai Kung – posts to follow!

My peaky blinder enjoying a late night cocktail

Until the next post!

Da Nang – Beaches, Bikes and Ba’Na Hills

It’s been a year since we were last in Da Nang and the beaches are still as beautiful.  More hotels have been built and still more are in the process of being built.  The roads are busier, almost as busy as Hanoi or Saigon.  Da Nang is a busy bustling city but has one of the best coastlines in Asia – in my opinion!

This time we stayed at the amazing Melia Beach Resort, around 15 minutes from the airport.  I had booked a deluxe room and it turned out that it was in the main building and luckily we did have a sea view.  There is a more upmarket part also more expensive called The Level, these are small apartments with their own private pool.  But we were happy, a short walk to the beach and just a few floors down to the main restaurant where we had breakfast everyday.  I had planned on doing a few tours but when we saw the beach I put those on hold for another year.  I did drag Anthony to Ba’Na Hills though as I really wanted a photo on the Golden Hands Bridge, which I managed!  We had a fantastic relaxing week here, and I even got to have a few sessions in the YHI Spa.

Beach photos

Non Nuoc Beach
At the front of the Melia – there was a small call bell on the side table to order drinks!
For your afternoon snooze
Volley Ball court – too energetic for me

contemplating how to bring his boat ashore

View from our balcony

When I checked the weather the week before it said it would be thunderstorms and rain everyday! This wasn’t the case at all, we had some rain and it was cloudy on some days but for the majority of the days it was sunny.  The cloudy day we had we went to Ba’Na Hills which was the perfect weather for it.

Hotel Photos

Cocktails by the pool – Mango Daquiri
Cape Nao
Pool Bar
Cape Nao Restaurant
Infinity Pool

 

We didn’t eat at the hotel every night but ventured into Da Nang and Hoi An.  There is a shuttle bus into Hoi An but we took a taxi.  Hoi An is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.  We’ve been before but this time the crowds were even bigger than ever.  There are so many restaurants in Hoi An but most seemed empty.  Most of the tourists who visit just take photos of the river and boats and lanterns.  Every few feet you are stopped by vendors offering anything from candles to boat rides.  We love the restaurant called Morning Glory and we saw at least four of them.  You can sit upstairs overlooking the river or the street.  The food here is delicious and original and customers often ask each other what they are eating or advising on what is really tasty.  It’s a great place to strike up a conversation with other travellers.

Hoi An Photos

No cars allowed, only bikes

One of the many art galleries

Colourful lanterns hang outside most of the shops and restaurants

By the river

This lady had just cycled with a heavy load balancing on her shoulders

Da Nang

Da Nang is also good for different types of restaurants, especially Asian fusion.  One night we at a a place called Fat Fish which is just a few minutes away from the Dragon Bridge.  They don’t seem to have a website.  It is owned and managed by an English man and his Vietnamese  wife.  The service is impeccable.  She has trained all the staff so well.   That night there was a firework competition between Russia and Vietnam, I managed to see a bit from the street.

My favourite cocktail a Mojito

Fireworks through the trees

Pulled Pork salad
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with basil pesto

 

Bikes

Vietnam is known for the thousands of motor bikes everywhere, even in Da Nang.  It amazes me how many people they can fit onto one bike.  It’s just a way of life for them but everyday they take their life in their hands.  There seems to be designated seats for each member of the family and it’s often the youngest who is almost on the handlebars.  I also noticed that the parents wear helmets whilst the children often do not.  Sadly we did see one accident when we were there, a man was lying on the road underneath his bike with people trying to help him up, I’m not sure that was really the right thing to do.

From the taxi we were in

Taken from the taxi

 

Ba’Na Hills

On the one cloudy day we had I finally persuaded my husband to come to Ba’Na Hills with me.  I decided against the official tour but just hired a driver from the hotel so we could arrive and leave whenever we liked.  I’m glad we went around 12pm as most of the tours had arrived by then.

Bà Nà Hill Station is a hill station and resort located in the Trường Sơn Mountains west of the city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam. It was founded in 1919 by French colonists. The colonists had built a resort to be used as a leisure destination for French tourists. Being located above 1500 metres above sea level, it has a view of the East Sea and the surrounding mountains.  Source: Wikipedia.

The cable car alone is worth the visit, it’s just amazing you just keep going up and up, sometimes you can’t even see the top as it’s covered in mist and it is eerily quiet.  It is the  longest non-stop single track cable car at 5,801 metres (19,032 ft) in length.

There is so much to see here that it’s impossible to see everything in the four hours we had planned.  But we did our best!  The main attractions would be the French village, Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Debay Wine Cellar, the Golden Bridge and the Fantasy Park.  We didn’t bother with the Fantasy Park but just wandered around the gardens, temples and the village.  You can also stay here as there is a resort called Mercure Danang French Village.  The views overlooking Da Nang are amazing.  The weather is very much cooler up here and can be quite cold.

One hand of the Golden Bridge appearing through the mist
Up and Up we go
There are five cable stations in all
Overlooking Da Nang

 

 

 

 

Inside Debay Wine Cellar
When you need a helping hand
Or a leg to stand on
Debay Wine Cellar

Golden Hands Bridge

Minutes before the heavens opened

The French Village 

The Temples and Tea House

 

My husband and I were divided on our opinion of Ba’Na Hills, I really enjoyed it but he said it was just a tourist attraction.

And that’s all folks until the next trip!

Hyper Hanoi – October 2016

Adding onto our Laos/Vietnam trip we flew to Hanoi from Luang Prabang and planned to stay here for three days.  We decided instead of organised trips we would just explore Hanoi on our own.  I had booked three days at Hotel Nikko a very large Japanese hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake. The hotel was fantastic with magnificent views over the city.  Both photos were taken from our room.  I loved all the gadgets on the toilet!

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh being the largest.  Its chaotic and noisy 24 hours a day with horns blaring and hundreds of motor bikes whizzing by.  If they can’t get by on the roads then they just use the pavement.

As we arrived quite late we had dinner at the hotel, unfortunately we were not very impressed. The restaurant is also where they serve breakfast and they have a smoking area inside but its just an alcove, so you can smell smoke constantly – Japanese business men are big smokers.

The next two days and nights were just spent walking around and eating amazing food.  Hanoi has some of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten in.  It’s an incredibly busy city and you take your chances when crossing any road.  Red lights don’t seem to mean much here!  The sights we took in were the Old Quarter, the Citadel and St Josephs Church.  Some photos below:

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A very kind lady let Anthony pose with her goods

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Inside the citadel

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St Joseph’s Church

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Heavy loads

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Inside the citadel

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Graduating students

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Sunset from the room

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Bonsai Tree

One of the restaurants we ate in was Pots and Pans which I see now from their website is permanently closed.  At the time of visiting this was a teaching restaurant to help young people get a good start in life.  Another was Verticale a French restaurant, which served gourmet French food with a Vietnamese twist and the staff and service were impeccable, probably one of the best meals I’ve eaten was here!

After Hanoi we drove to Ha Long Bay for a one night/two day cruise, that will be on the next post!

Laid back Luang Prabang, Laos – October 2016

The second part of our trip to Laos was to the incredibly beautiful Luang Prabang.  This tiny town is encircled by mountains and sits on the banks of the Mekong and Nam Khan River.  We flew Lao Airlines from Vientiane and had arranged for a driver to take us to our hotel.  We stayed at the very elegant Belle Rive Hotel just across from the river.  It is an old French colonial building with rooms that are more like small apartments with your own private entrance.  Luang Prabang has such a lovely laid back atmosphere. Hardly any cars on the roads, people cycling by and boats meandering along the river makes for a very relaxing time.

Luang Prabang
The Belle Rive Hotel

The hotel offered a free sunset cruise which we just had time to board.  It took us on a leisurely trip along the Mekong.  Below is a slide show of some of the shots I took.

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We had dinner that night at L’Elephant, a beautiful French restaurant not too far from our hotel.

L'Elephant
A perfectly cooked steak

The next day we were picked up by our driver – a cousin of our driver in Vientiane – at 10 a.m for a river trip to Pak Ou Cave, including lunch on the river.  Then onto to Kuang Si Waterfalls and the Bear Park with a short stop to a paper making village.  Luang Prabang is very famous for making paper.  Some photos below of our day.

Young monks on the river
Relaxing on the boat
Mekong River
Wooden pier
Buddha images inside the cave
From inside the cave
Lunch on the river

Kuang Si Waterfalls

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Pretending to be the three eyed raven – GOT fans

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I managed to get some clear shots but there were actually many people swimming in these water falls, although it was extremely slippery.

Asiatic Black Bear Rescue Centre

I just managed to get two shots as the Centre was closing.  Very cute baby bears.

For our final day we had our driver just for the morning where we were going to Mount Phou Si, which is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town.  Today was also the end of the Buddhist Lent and all the young monks were getting ready to sail along the Mekong that evening in the lighted boats.

Young Monks getting their paper mache items ready
Model of Laos Airline Plane
Steps leading up to Mount Phou Si
Views from the top
On top of the world!

 

Our last night in Luang Prabang was spent on the river front at our hotel having dinner and watching the Lighting Festival.  “The day is celebrated by illuminated boat processions handmade with bamboo and banana trunks, colourfully decorated with candles and money. Each family has to make one, each person has to throw out one illuminated little boat on the Mekong, wishing good luck for the future and paying respect to the spirit of the waters. There are more than 20000 boats sailing slowly down the river during the night” from the website www.luangprabang-laos.com/Festival-of-lights-209.  We didn’t actually see 20,000 boats but saw a few.

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This is where I needed a more professional camera to catch the brightly coloured boats.
So that concludes Luang Prabang.  The thing I liked best about this wonderful city was the absolute serenity and peacefulness of it all.
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Diverse Da Nang – May 2018

Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam and most people visit here for the amazing beaches.  Its close to Hoi An and Hue.  It has a great laid back atmosphere and also offers a range of accommodation from luxury to budget.

We drove from Hue with Hue Private Tours again and this time went through the tunnel.  Arriving at our hotel – Belle Maison – too early to check in, we looked for a place for lunch.  Strangely the manager would not recommend any seafood restaurants around the hotel as he said the fish might not be too fresh!  So we headed away from the beach across the river to the Waterfront restaurant.  A great find and we had a gourmet lunch.

Burrato cheese and tomato salad with mango
fresh rice paper rolls
Crab cakes with chilli and mango salsa

Back to the hotel for check in and found we had been upgraded to a family size room with ocean front views!

Da Nang beach front
Great view but so many people!

Heading down to the beach to check out the water we found there was not much room to move!  There were a crazy amount of people in the sea, most could not swim as they were all in rubber rings, there was a small mountain of them on the beach for hire.  This part of the shoreline is extremely popular with local families.  Also hardly any wear swim suits!  Just swim in their clothes.
Later we went up to the 21st floor to have cocktails at the Sky Lounge.  Stunning views!

Passionfruit Mojito
Sky 21 Lounge

For the next couple of days it was just going to be relaxation – no more trips.  So the next day we tried further down the beach where it seemed less crowded and found some nicer sunbeds in front of the Holiday Beach resort.  Great service from the staff on the beach there.
Da Nang has the most amazing coast line and it goes on for miles.  The sea is lovely and warm and not rough at all – just the way I like it!
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More cocktails that night and then dinner at Madam Lan’s with a couple of fellow Australians who we had met at the hotel.  After reading good reviews about this restaurant must say we were all a bit disappointed with the blandness of the food.
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The next day we headed off to the Novotel for breakfast, as breakfast at the Belle Maison was so busy, a table was an hour long wait! Took some snaps on the top of the hotel there.

So after breakfast we thought we would have a look at another beach much further along the coast.  The Centara Sandy Beach Resort offered day tickets for a reasonable price where we got to spend the day around the pool and their beach front.  Had an incredible afternoon here and I think it will be our next holiday destination.
Finally finished off our three days here with dinner at the Waterfront restaurant.
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To sum up Da Nang will definitely be on my list again and I can honestly say that Vietnam is now my favourite country in Asia.

Historical Hue – May 2018

 

Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam and is a city in Central Vietnam, and sits on the banks of the Perfume River.  There are many historical monuments here and we hope to visit a few in the three days we will spend here.  Australian passport holders do require a visa which is easily obtainable online.  Vietnamese currency is the dong.

We flew into Da Nang to meet our driver Alex, who I had organised online through Hue Private Cars.  It was a great service, so nice to be met at the airport instead of waiting in line for a taxi and be bombarded by different companies trying to offer you a taxi.  I had agreed on a route beforehand to Hue which was over the Hai Van Pass and not through the tunnel.  The day was perfect for travelling the three hour drive to our hotel in Hue.  There was breathtaking scenery on the way and we stopped at a very tranquil place for lunch just past Lang Co Beach.

Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass
View from the top
Lang Co Beach
Lang Co Beach
Waiting for a La Rue

Arriving at our hotel at around 4pm we checked in to a fantastically large room.  We were staying at the Saigon Moirin. This hotel dated back to 1901 and the French owners have tried very hard to keep it in line with its origins.  Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard stayed here on their honeymoon and every night we were treated to the film “The Dictator” on the screen in the garden!
The Dictator
Views from our room and the hotel:

Busy Bridge
Sunset from the balcony
Saigon Moirin Garden
From our balcony
Enjoying a cocktail
corridor to our room

The road in front of our hotel was extremely busy, with the traffic lights sometimes working sometimes not.  So Anthony just grabbed my hand and off we went, dodging motor cycles to get to the otherside.  How the motor cycles miss each other is a mystery!

Dinner that night was at a Vietnamese restaurant called Elegant Vietnam which I had read good reviews about.  We were not disappointed especially with the good wine list!  The service was fantastic and food excellent.

For the next two days I used the hotel concierge to organise some trips for us as they had such interesting trips on offer.  On the first day we were driven to some very famous tombs and the hidden bridge.  To begin with we went first to the hidden bridge – Thanh Toan.  It was incredibly hot!

Plowing the fields
Red Tiled Thanh Toan Bridge
Hue, Vietnam
Elegant Vietnamese Gentleman
Baby chicks

We then went to Khai Dinh Tombs and Minh Mang Tombs.  Below are some shots from Khai Dinh.  Beautiful ceramic tile decoration.

Dinner that night was at Les Jardines de la Carambole just across the river.  What a fantastic restaurant and great service too.  It is off the beaten track so you need to “google map” it.  Delicious food and good wine.

Meat and cheese platter to share
Duck a la Orange
Aged beef lyon style
Inside the restaurant
The hosts – Christian and Ha

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