East - west - east.

We enjoyed a day off from driving in charming Hue.  Adrian went on the train to Da Nang and back, just for the experience and I just walked and walked until the heat defeated me and I retreated to the air con. Dinner was taken, with good friends Lloyd and Treacy, at La Residence hotel - a fabulous Art Deco affair that could have been a Poirot film set.  We dined on a perfect terrace, alongside the Perfume river, on amazing food.  I think Graham Greene and Somerset Maugham were at the next table.

Today, we drove for 170 miles beginning our journey by heading west back to the Laos border.  Then, we snaked along the border south before turning back towards the coast to Hoi An, our home for the night.  We passed through tiny settlements where the local dialect is so different that even our Vietnamese chaps could not make themselves understood.  

Another fabulous days driving - for much of it along deserted roads through spectacular scenery; mountains and pristine jungle.  My, oh my, this is a BEAUTIFUL country. A and I were agreeing that, for part of today's journey, we were on one of our top ten drives.  Jaw dropping, just jaw dropping.  Alas, there are few photographs to back up thus great claim as some foolish woman forgot to charge the camera battery. You'll just have to take my word for it. We passed hill 937 -  "Hamburger Hill" so notorious but now, just another hill, among so many.

We hit the coast at Da Nang - giant city that is fast becoming the new Benidorm. The coastal strip is awash with resort hotels with many more under construction. We are staying, for two nights, in the little town of Hoi An.  It looks to be a bit of a shoppers paradise.  Of dear!