I left off last time just as our first day in Nha Trang was unfolding. Auberon had some digestive problems because of the train food, so that combined with the heat meant he wasn't quite up to going exploring early. After my morning swim, I went to the market that was visible from our hotel room.
The outside was surrounded by fruit and vegetable vendors set up on the sidewalk, and a small enclosed building had aisles of clothes and jewelry. A similar building held the eating area, with the same types of street food I had become used to in Saigon. The largest building was structurally little more than a covered set of stone tables, upon which sat scores of stalls mostly selling meat and fish, though there was more fruit to be had inside too. I bought some sweet rice buns and a few bread rolls and brought them back to our hotel for breakfast.
Later that day, Auberon felt good enough to go to the beach. The beach was nearly empty and the water was beautifully warm and calm. We simply drifted, resting and relaxing in the comfort of the sea. Later, I discovered that I had been terribly sunburned, but the memory of the ocean is still pleasant.
We decided to listen to the advice of our Vietnamese university student friends and switch up our itinerary. The old capital of Hue was out, and the historic river city of Hoi An was in. Every time we mentioned where we were going, they implored us to forget Hue for Hoi An. We figured that they probably knew a thing or two about their own country (three were studying tourism) so we cancelled our previous booking and found a bed-and-breakfast in Hoi An.
I'm writing this from that same B&B, so you know it worked out, but for now I'm signing off. Soon, off again, this time to Hanoi!
Pictured: mountains and a river in Nha Trang.
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