November 2024 - Vietnam Part 2; Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Hoi An and Train Rides!

Near the end of the month and I was still in Vietnam and going well. In part 2 I stopped in Quy Nhon and Da Nang using the "Great" rail system and popped on a scooter to check out the ultra-touristy Hoi An for a day.  Most of my time was spent enjoying Da Nang which I originally was going to give a miss.  That would have been a huge mistake so thanks to Alex for doing the scouting!!!

Day 13-14. It was suggested (by Chat GPT) that I checkout Quy Nhon. Wanting to enjoy the landscape from the train this was a good midpoint in route to Da Nang in order to ride during the day for both trips. 

Lost in Transportation again waiting for my first Vietnam train experience to begin...so excited!!

1950's train station? located walking distance
to the centre of Nha Trang.

So tight to the backyards of the people or are those front yards?

Love trains

Every since I was in Italy years and years ago on a train in a 6 person cart that I had all to myself where I could turn all the seats in to a huge bed I have fantasized about having a sleeper cabin to myself every time I get the chance...Well at least my cabin buddies were reasonable people this time.

see...really excited! $13

So much of the farm land set up like this.

I chose not to eat on the train.

The staff preparing food in the dining car

Scenic views as we chugged along the coast

French bridges or Vietnamese?
I hope they are well kept.

I think 2nd class?

I think 1st class?

Arriving in the evening in Quy Nhon with some light rain. I was determined not to get ripped off so grabbed a seat and a drink at a corner cafe across from the station in order to use wifi to check the Grab Cab rates.  The cafe owner's brother matched the $6 to go 12 km to get to the centre.  Stayed at Suri Homestay for $10 CAD which is run by the family and has a 11pm soft curfew giving you a general idea how the city night life is.  Vietnamese typically go to be early and rise early. Oh and as advertised I was one of few non-Korean tourist in the city.

Comfy but you hear the family
 in the kitchen 2 floors below 
clearly through closed windows

All that for $2! I was starving.

Chose the most modern spot
that was close and open

Found the food market later

So tasty.  Sweet rice wine.

Quiet town on a Thursday night

Must be some Philipinos here?

Staying near the beach

I wonder what it's like during good weather.  They do have volley ball nets.

a traffic light!

cafe taking the side walk

Beautiful park and coastal area

Heading in to the city to restaurants, where?.

motos taking the side walk

Well there must be some tourism!  Black Friday?

Hence why GPS said walk around...

Exhilarating to casually walk
across big streets with all
zooming by.

Easy to find right by the street

Thap Doi Towers, one of the suggested things to check out which isn't super touristy, but I did have to pay $1 to walk around.

After the 4 km walk I stopped at one of few lunch spots on the route. A very personal and local experience.  Some times as a traveller who has been to many tourist spots you feel like they will rip you off any chance they get.  Not this very friendly owner. $2.

Pho porque no?

Woke this guy up for lunch

He came and sat with me

like $0.50

Old tracks no longer in use as far as I could tell

pastel colours like 1920s

Lovely little lake with cafes along side

lake side cafes

Mexico should have this!

Roof top view from Suri Homestay

clever door stop

Kid was so cute, he followed me down the  street
for blocks waving every time I looked back

Another cheap cheap lunch $2

This challenged young man rocked the mic!  Have a listen.

crispy rice wafers

google recommended "14 reviews"...it was good

like $3 or 4 CAD

Day 15-22 Off to Da Nang to reunite with Alex and meet all his buddies and great city he had been telling me I had to get to.  But first another train ride of about 5 hours this time in a seat instead of sleeping cabin. Like $10.  Hard to believe at this point that I had paid $135 for a train from Tokyo to Kyoto which of course is a different level quality and goes 250km/hr, but wow what a cost difference.

Hoping to leave the rain behind, chau Quy Nhon

Bum gun! (everywhere in Asia)

So many cemeteries along the tracks!

back by the coast

walked the whole 7 cars...the end

I'll pass on the food cart thanks

Yep, that's just another reason
I'm not eating on the train, haha

hope that's not electricity?

more cemeteries

Arrived in Da Nang around 4pm, got on the back of Shoe's "My Easy Rider" (trip advisor) moto taxi for a cool ride over to the hotel zone on the coast.

What you can do with a rubber strap!

Nice helmet actually

Video of crossing one of the many bridges that connect the main city to "My An" area.  $2.50 moto taxi.

big apartment buildings

KTV - Karaoke bar which is 
likely a strip club

Tourist bar zone

Great fun at Aqua Betty 
Saturday night Karaoke

Good Morning... routines at the beach

It's like the trees are placed
to cover cracks in building, haha

No swimming where red flags are

Nice to have a traffic light if you don't want to 
frogger across, hahahaha

On the pho train!

Staying at Sea Wind Hotel a great spot for $15 a night!

King!

Rooftop pool with amazing views.

Complimentary pool towels

Awesome breakfast spot - Op La Cafe

$4, pricy!

Lunch?

Beach promenade

Super side story: Waiting to play some 2 vs 2 volley ball Alex, George and myself prayed for someone with some ability to show up and he did. Rio, a 16 year old indoor player, from Japan arrived and definitely had the skills to play with us, so much so that we made him play 2 hours until his mom came and took him away, hahaha. 

Great afternoon of Vball. 
Canadian, Japanese, 2 x Russians

Not supposed to, but I washed off in the sea
while the life guard whistled at me.

Nice fish dinner, but bony

Playing a little pool at The Liquid Pig

A few classic motorbikes in the lobby

Hahaha, Family Vehicle

Great view from the other Sea Wind Hotel

Day trip to Hoi An.  Decided to grab a motorbike and go for a day over to the touristy Hoi An which is 30 km South of Da Nang.  My first scooter riding in Vietnam...but not my last.

$5 for an afternoon.

more comfortable than it looks

I'm under utilizing my scooter it looks like

A few bigger bikes going the other way

Marble Mountain

The lady's shop at Marble Mountain

Another side story: Driving passed Marble Mountain a lady on a scooter caught up to me and said she would help me and to follow her.  She was offering to see the Mountain, and I could park free in front of her shop.  At the time, I didn't think it was a shop to sell souvenirs, but it sure was.  I left after a few minutes as I had no idea how much time I needed for Hoi An. 

Weird lady trying to sell me

Go to the beach side of Hoi An

Not a lot of beach

Fishing pods for the river

Driving in to Hoi An on the long two lane built up road.

Duck, duck, duck...goose?

Quaint little "old town"

fees to go in, Not doing it!

fees to go in, Not for me!

Many people mover bikes

Quite the load for that scooter

fee, No go for me!

Inside the big yellow barn, all kiosks the same

tasty sweet rice ball

Some high water

You would think there would be a dam control?

wonderful wood sculpting 

Let's take the tourist meter to eleven!

lots of people movers

Thought it was the Japanese Bridge, but no...

Could be the strangest toy I have come across...

Until you are drunk!

Boats purely to take tourists in a small circle

Cool little alley of bars/restos

Made it back for half day rental

Great fun rolling wraps at one of our regular restaurants near the hotel.

Let's check out the famous Dragon Bridge in Da Nang.

Siestas Vietnamese style

Is this a good place to eat?

Yes it's good, Thao Vy resto

big rice wrap lunch, $3

Wild design, man made hill

rough looking outdoor table

Time for the Dragon Bridge at night which has a fire and water display on Friday and Saturday at 9pm.

Boats and even a cruise ship having a look

Bottle of Meo Meo alcohol 30%
500 ml for $5, that's value!

Fermented wild apples

Jakov said it was pretty good

Incredible side story: After stepping down from the stage at Aqua Betty Karaoke this late 20s Aussie says, "Are you Brad?"   What?  well yes I am, how did you know.  "The Life of Brad, we met in Stockholm in 2016"  Good on you Curits to say something which after that I was able to recall the meeting.  I bought him drinks all night and will do for others I reconnect with in this little universe we travel around in.

Me and Aussie Curtis

Karaoke stage at Aqua Betty

Was out on a date when we realised it was open mic and the presenter was looking for anyone to add a few songs in order to take a break.  So of course I played "The Classic"  Have a listen...