Foodie Heaven (and a bit of shopping too!!)

Another bus took us to Hoi An, although this time fortunately the journey was only just over 5 hours!

We arranged to do a cookery course while in Hoi An - something that was on our list of things to do while travelling. The course we chose was excellent. The day started with a trip to an organic farm and a local market, where we bought ingredients for our dishes. The markets in Vietnam are really interesting places full of fantastic colours, sounds and very peculiar smells.

We learnt to make some typical Vietamese dishes - including the national dish of Pho (complete with homemade rice noodles!!) Hopefully we can recreate all of the flavours when we get home - although not sure whether our local supermarket stocks banana leaves! Have to say the food in Vietnam has been delicious and so fresh - the Vietnamese obviously love their food because the ''Golden Arches'' are nowhere to be seen! The day was really well organised and we met some fellow foodies from London which made the day (and evening drinks!) even better!

Hoi An is famous for its tailors so it would have been rude not to use their talents!! Steph got a pair of trousers and a dress made (but wishes there was room in the suitcase and pennies in the purse to get more things made!) there are already plans for a return trip to complete the custom wardrobe!!

Hoi An and Halong Bay have been our favourite places in Vietnam so far.