Hoi An

Day 1: Up early to catch the bus down to Hoi An. Sat next to a guy called Alan (Chile), who I had met on the nightbus a few days earlier. Chatted the whole way there and we went halves on a room once we arrived in Hoi An early afternoon.

After checking in, the 2 of us went to explore the town (hoping I wouldn't get lost with someone else there this time). Hoi An is pretty small so we had a walk around checking out some temples and the vast amount of Chinese architecture that was there. Lots of suit shops - a prime destination for tourist suit shopping. I met some people who were coming to Hoi An for just that reason. Also a nice river running along the side of the town. Alan and I got some Vietnamese food and then bumped into Jakob & Miriam. Made plans to meet them for dinner that night. Back to the guesthouse without getting lost - probably thanks to Alan.

Met the guys that evening and Sebastien, Mitja and a german girl called Romona was also there. Fantastic meal - one of the best I've had in 'Nam'. I even accidentally ordered a meal for 2 just for myself but it still got suitably devoured. Few beers with everyone afterwards and Mitja told us all about the suits he had got measured up for and bought that day - haha. $500 worth no less!

Day 2: Myself and Alan booked on a tour (tour Chris) to go to My Son, the ruins of the ancient Cham empire. When we booked the tour, we were given the following choice:

- $7 = A tour guide that speaks English, but not very well

OR

- $8 = A tour guide that speaks perfect English.

After both laughing for a bit, I'm ashamed to say I suggested to Alan we go for the $8 option. He wasn't falling for it though and insisted on the $7 deal. And guess what, there was only one guide, who spoke AWFUL English, no perfect English speaking equivalent. Miriam and Ramona were on the same tour and we all laughed at Ramona for picking the $8 option - me trying not to mention I had wanted to do the same!

The tour itself was, without doubt, the worst I think I've ever been on (guess I was spoilt in Hue). We arrived at the sight where hoards of people were and were given a choice between waiting for a golf buggy to take us to the ruins (this could take half an hour) or walking to them ourselves and not have a guide to take us round the ruins. We ended up waiting for the buggy and then didn't have a guide for the ruins anyway! It was a shambles. A real shame as well because they looked quite interesting And it would have been nice to find out more. The 4 of us + a girl called Safiyah who we met were past caring by this point anyway.

The "tour" concluded with a boat trip back to Hoi An and a shocking meal to go with it (cold rice with cabbage). You just don't know what you're going to get with tours out here. This one was awful.

Another hour to kill looking round the town. Only enough for a day in Hoi An though really, nice as it is to look at. That night, me and Alan caught the nightbus to...