Tan Cang Qui Nhon

We woke up on the sleeper train quite stiff and a little cold, but fairly well rested. One of the families had gotten off in the night at their destination, so we spread out a little more, enjoying the view from the window of the countryside we couldn't see before.

We arrived in Quy Nhon mid-morning and decided to walk to our accommodation as it wasn't very far. We're always so optimistic and then remember, once we start, how hot it is and regret our decision. It was 9 am and already in the 30s°C. We got a lot of stares from people as we went by and quickly realized not many Westerners visit here. We were staying in an apartment in the tallest building in the whole city, which meant it had a stunning view. Half the building was a hotel, and the other half were apartments that seemed to be let out to Vietnamese holidaymakers. We settled into our room and then went for a walk along the long, sandy beach. The whole place gave me massive Bournemouth vibes, but Vietnamese and communist, with its semi-developed beachfront and long boardwalk next to the road.

After a few drinks at the beach bar and James dipping his feet into the South China Sea, we headed back, freshened up, and then tried to get some late lunch. Sadly for us, they keep to French times and close around midday for a few hours until evening, so everywhere to eat within walking distance was closed. We eventually found a small street restaurant where a young lady made us some food we'd never tried before from her little vending stall. The stools/chairs we sat on were so small that she encouraged us to use one for each butt cheek. The food was delicious, and then we wandered around more until it got too hot and we headed back. We went out again in search of alcohol, which we found on the top floor of our building inside the hotel bar. The view was insanely high and scary.

We then walked along the promenade which, empty earlier, was now heaving and busy, with every restaurant bursting with groups and families enjoying their dinner. We didn't really know what we were doing but ended up going into a very local place and ordering a grilled fish, some unrecognizable veggies, and spring rolls, all of which were delicious. From our first-floor dining spot, we watched people enjoy themselves and even saw a huge crowd of teenagers on neon rollerblades going into oncoming traffic. The mood was infectious, and we had a lovely time feeling welcomed and part of the frivolity.

The next day we ate breakfast in a local cafe, where we almost interrupted a silent study session of students, which served great coffee. We then paid to use the adjoining hotel's pool, which was pretty magnificent, and lounged there for most of the day. We ventured out briefly to have some lunch, including cake, at a French patisserie and then went back to the pool. That evening, we went out to the Chinese restaurant, which was one of the most delicious places I've eaten during the whole trip. Our top item was the custard-filled bao buns, and I'm not even that much of a fan of bao buns.

The next day we took the train again, but in standard seats, as it was just a day ride to Hoi An.Read more