Nha Trang, Vietnam
On my last night in Hoi An (Tuesday, 6 February) I went out again with the same 5 Swedes I met the previous day. It was good fun. Once again we went to the bar with the nice pool table for a while and then later to another bar. I stayed out until nearly 4 AM which is the lastest I've been out since I left Bangkok, including New Years Eve!
So of course I slept in the next day (Wednesday, 7 February) but not too late as I had to check out of my hotel. I got up at 9:30 AM, ate breakfast, and packed up. Then I caught the local bus from Hoi An to Danang around 11 AM and my train left Danang around 1:15 PM. The train ride was much better than the bus except that I didn't get to sit by a window and really enjoy the incredible landscapes flowing by. We got served a free dinner (a first) on the train and I nearly convinced myself that the meat was dog since it didn't seem quite right and the Vietnamese are known for eating dog. However I would be surprised if they did in fact serve dog as the main meal on a train. It wasn't a very good or filling meal. I arrived in Nha Trang, Vietnam around 9:30 PM and walked about 2 km to a hotel that was recommended to me. They only had a more expensive AC room but it was too late to shop around. Then I had a late dinner and finally went to sleep close to midnight.
On Thursday (8 February) morning I spent over an hour trying to find a cheaper guesthouse but in the end I ended up staying in the same place for a reduced rate. Accomodation is more expensive in Vietnam than I was expecting. I paid $7 last night and the room was not as nice as the one in Hoi An for the same price. Now I'm paying $5/night and I agreed not to use the AC which I hate anyways. I haven't had a room with AC since I left Shanghai, China! I spent the rest of the day walking up and down the beach that runs the length of the town. Although overall the landscapes in Nha Trang are stunning, including the nearly turquoise water, surrounding islands, and mountain backdrop, with all the garbage on the beach, the coarse sand, the narrowness of the beach, the built up water front, and the less aesthetic city, I like Hoi An - and its beach just out of town - better. I don't know what all the fuss is about Nha Trang, and I think Hoi An and its beach (and further afield: China Beach) are under rated. I also took a 'sight seeing tour' courtsey of the local bus!
I booked a boat tour for tomorrow to some of the surrounding islands where I can do some snorkling. Hopefully I can meet some people that way too.
So of course I slept in the next day (Wednesday, 7 February) but not too late as I had to check out of my hotel. I got up at 9:30 AM, ate breakfast, and packed up. Then I caught the local bus from Hoi An to Danang around 11 AM and my train left Danang around 1:15 PM. The train ride was much better than the bus except that I didn't get to sit by a window and really enjoy the incredible landscapes flowing by. We got served a free dinner (a first) on the train and I nearly convinced myself that the meat was dog since it didn't seem quite right and the Vietnamese are known for eating dog. However I would be surprised if they did in fact serve dog as the main meal on a train. It wasn't a very good or filling meal. I arrived in Nha Trang, Vietnam around 9:30 PM and walked about 2 km to a hotel that was recommended to me. They only had a more expensive AC room but it was too late to shop around. Then I had a late dinner and finally went to sleep close to midnight.
On Thursday (8 February) morning I spent over an hour trying to find a cheaper guesthouse but in the end I ended up staying in the same place for a reduced rate. Accomodation is more expensive in Vietnam than I was expecting. I paid $7 last night and the room was not as nice as the one in Hoi An for the same price. Now I'm paying $5/night and I agreed not to use the AC which I hate anyways. I haven't had a room with AC since I left Shanghai, China! I spent the rest of the day walking up and down the beach that runs the length of the town. Although overall the landscapes in Nha Trang are stunning, including the nearly turquoise water, surrounding islands, and mountain backdrop, with all the garbage on the beach, the coarse sand, the narrowness of the beach, the built up water front, and the less aesthetic city, I like Hoi An - and its beach just out of town - better. I don't know what all the fuss is about Nha Trang, and I think Hoi An and its beach (and further afield: China Beach) are under rated. I also took a 'sight seeing tour' courtsey of the local bus!
I booked a boat tour for tomorrow to some of the surrounding islands where I can do some snorkling. Hopefully I can meet some people that way too.
posted by Dustin at 2:47 AM
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