Destination Vietnam
Danang and Hoi An
Danang
One of the most ancient cities in Vietnam, Danang was the centre of the Cham Dynasty from the 2nd century and today boasts the largest and most impressive collection of Cham artefacts anywhere in the world.
Danang’s rich cultural history, it’s proximity to the extraordinary ruins of My Son, it’s atmospheric riverfront promenade, it’s world-famous Cham Museum all continue to draw visitors.
Unwelcome visitors have made their mark here too, Danang was the first landing-point for the invading French troops and again decades later for the US Marines. Close by Danang is China Beach, immortalised for many by the US television show and still one of the most spectacular beaches in Asia.
Also nearby are the Marble Mountains, the 5 craggy limestone peaks that are said to represent the 5 elements of the universe. A climb inside through the hundreds of natural caves and grottoes is a must.
Hoi An
Hoi An is an extraordinary jewel of a town. In a country so ravaged by war, Hoi An managed to remain untouched, and as you wander the completely traffic-free streets of this ancient seaport it is not hard to imagine yourself amidst the sailors and merchants of the 18th Century, when Hoi An was one of the busiest trading ports in Asia. Chinese, Japanese and European architecture bears witness to a cosmopolitan past and allows today’s visitors a glimpse of Vietnam that no longer exists elsewhere.
