Da Nang

Immediately after our stay on Phu Quoc Island, we took a flight up to Da Nang, on the eastern coast of Vietnam. Da Nang was not actually our first choice destination, as we had originally hoped to fly to Hue, the cultural centre of Vietnam. Unfortunately, the runway at Hue is closed for 6 months so that essential maintenance can take place. During the Vietnam War (or the 'American War' as the Vietnamese call it), the same airport was the busiest in the world.

Despite this apparent setback, we were happy to see another location in Vietnam and to compare it to Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc Island. Travel can be quite a lottery. We booked the HAGL Hotel for 1 night in Da Nang, which was half the price of The Majestic Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. For half the price, you would expect half the quality, right? Wrong. The room at the HAGL Hotel was clean, spacious, with a great bathroom, and a panoramic view of the surrounding area. I would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone who visits Da Nang. The staff were absolutely lovely - attentive and willing to help in any way.

HAGL Hotel, Da Nang

Apart from briefly sampling the city and nightlife, we did very little else. Da Nang in many ways is the opposite of Ho Chi Minh. It is clean, whereas Ho Chi Minh is grimy. The nightlife fades away at 1am, whereas in Ho Chi Minh you could stay out all night. The people in Da Nang do not approach you to sell transportation services or sundry items, whereas in Ho Chi Minh you are bothered to the brink of losing your temper.

Da Nang was merely a taster for my next trip to Vietnam. I would like to visit this city again, as well as the northern capital of Hanoi and the cultural centre, Hue (once the airport reopens).

A brief closing summary of my thoughts on Vietnam to follow soon.