Vinh Hung Riverside Resort Hoi An

Many people are aware of Da Nang on the east coast of Vietnam. It was where the American troops enjoyed their R&R on the sun drenched beaches with waves designed for surfing. 30 Kilometres South of Da Nang is a small town called Hoi An. Hoi An was Vietnam’s important international seaport town from the 16th century to the late 19th century with merchants from both Asia and Europe trading all sorts of goods from spices to gold. Located on the bank of Thu Bon River this is a quiet riverside town dotted with temples, shrines and Chinese style tile-roofed wooden houses girding a long narrow road. There are a number of hotels but we got lucky as we were allocated a hotel, just south of the Thu Bon, called the Vinh Hung Resort. By the time we reached this resort we had been travelling for 13 days and had already been to Thailand, Laos and North Vietnam so we were really starting to flag and in need of our own R&R. What we found was a small piece of paradise when compared to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and Hanoi.
The accommodation was actually a small apartment/studio flat complete with all the usual amenities of tv (not that we watched it)mosquito nets and luxurious toiletries in the bathroom. An added surprise was the fact that the maid had gone to the trouble of arranging some flower petals on the bed in a heart shape (anyone would think we were on our honeymoon).
We also took advantage of the Spa. It wasn't the cheapest masage in SE Asia but it was only $10 each and after the hour long massage we were treated to ice cold water and fresh fruit. The rest of the day was spent by the pool just chilling out and reading one of the many books I acquired during my time in SE Asia. Waiter service is provided at the pool so you don't have to move from your sunbed and there is a very good selection of sandwiches etc. There is also free internet access at Vinh Hung which gave everyone an opportunity to update blogs and find out how the folks were back home. Needless to say, our batteries were fully recharged after our 2 day stay and we were ready for our onward trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia and back to Bangkok. Vinh Hung really is an Oasis and the place to stay in Hoi An. On a wider note, the restaurants in Hoi An are plentiful and many offer a course (half a day) on Vietnamese cooking. The one we used was Hong Phuc by the river which was excellent. Also visit Mrs Trangs tailor shop. One of the guys I was with bought a suit and 2 shirts (all made to measure on the premises) for £50. Our pub/bar of choice was the Tam Tam bar.