Leonie Dukes

21 June Today was a taxi transfer to Danang, with sightseeing on the way. I was sorry to say goodbye to my hotel in Hoi An, and to its pool. The first stop was Marble Mountain, one of a group of 5 which rise quite dramatically from the surrounding flat

Tra 20 June The day started with a lantern making class, where I got to make my own traditional silk lantern.  I then went for a bike ride to a village that grows herbs and vegetables.

19 June This morning I set off early for a bike ride.  I headed out of Hoi An and to the island of Cam Kim.   This is connected to the mainland by a bridge which cars cannot cross, and you very quickly find yourself in quiet rural farms and

18 June Today started with a tour at the nearby Silk Village – it used to be an active silk producing village, but is now a resort and restaurant with displays about the production of silk.  I was shown how the whole production process works, and then provided with a

17 June Today I had a cooking class with Bay Mau Eco Cooking Tour.   We started at the local market to purchase ingredients, then went by boat to the school. At the school we were first given a demonstration of traditional ways of husking rice, making rice milk and

16 June Today was long and hot.  I was travelling in a taxi, and we went via the Hai Van pass, a road which was once extremely deadly, but now a new tunnel has been built for most traffic it is just the scenic route.  It was obviously shown on

15 June Dinner last night was at a nice little restaurant along the river.  I had some stir fried pork with mushrooms, and a plate of morning glory (water spinach) sauteed with garlic.  It was delicious. This morning I was booked in for a class on how the traditional conical

14 June Today I went on a motorbike tour to see some of the sights around Hue.  We started in a coffee shop to try a local specialty- salted coffee.   I was surprised to find it is really nice. We then headed to to first stop, the tomb of

13 June This morning I had a cooking class in the home of a local woman who showed me how to make 3 dishes traditional to the area: Bun Thit Nuong (rice noodles with pork), Nem Lui (mince pork skewers cooked on lemongrass sticks) and Banh Khoai (rice pancakes).