Hoi An

We are staying at a "Homestay" that we booked on Airbnb. It is quite luxurious, with comfortable beds and high thread-count linens. I think we are the first guests in our little cottage. We booked this stay due to Tet, which folks are gearing up for and which eventually ends with all establishments closed -- just like our Christmas holiday.

The property sits among the many canals between Hoi An and the ocean and is surrounded by water palms. In theory you could take a boat from here out to sea, although it would take awhile. We are actually riding bikes! There are small alleyways in between the water palms with nice concrete roads between. Cars can travel, just barely, but the paths are mostly filled with motorcycles and still some bicycles. I am more than skittish due to my wrist injury, but seem to be managing it all okay. When we road into Hoi An yesterday, I thought we had been riding for an hour, but my Fitbit told the truth -- 30 minutes round trip. 

This morning our host Hung took us to the dock on bicycles where we loaded our bikes onto a boat that took us across the canal to the fishing village. There we saw women selling very fresh fish and purchased a snack of sticky rice, hominy, peanuts, and sugar. Quite tasty.

Getting out of the boat

Very fresh fish

Sticky rice and hominy breakfast

Love the round boats.

We rode on to a fish sauce factory where we got to see the process. Many people were coming in with empty water bottles which they refilled with fish sauce. Heavy use ... If you're using it for every meal! The fish are layered with sea salt in giant barrels. When the fermentation is complete -- I think six months to a year, the sauce is drained out. I understand they do multiple pressings, but this was no explained to us.

We rode our bikes to the local market which was much smaller than Hoi An and definitely more innocent and authentic The Hoi An market is impossible with women accosting us, becoming our friend, and then wanting us to buy. These folks are no longer innocent and are looking for a ride on the back of the tourists. In contrast, no one bothered us at the local market. We stopped for a noodle dish for breakfast....I didn't catch the name, but it was made from Hoi An noodles (very special), quail eggs, hot dog-type pork, and bits of chicken in a broth with greens. You could see the homemade broth boiling on the charcoal brazier...we don't do things like this at home I think.

Happy boiling stock on charcoal stove

Hung and noodles at the market.

The local village school, children waiting for teacher to show up for lessons to start.