DA NANG

Our time in Vietnam started with landing at the Da Nang International Airport. Sort of a bad sign when our taxi 🚖 driver couldn’t find our lodging. We had booked 5 nights at Dan Oasis. It had been well reviewed but the location was not close to anything to even buy water, or getting our laundry done. We didn’t mind taking a taxi to the beach because it’s so cheap, but for us not being able to find a variety store close by, was a big turn off. I have to say, the food at Dan Oasis was great and the staff were excellent. I think this accommodations would be great if you’re staying for a day, heading too or from the airport.

Since we arrived at the airport late afternoon, we ate at their restaurant and the following morning after our breakfast headed out to get water and a SIM card. Well, we spent all day in the heat, looking for a SIM card. We were both agitated and grumpy and hot..add tired to that list as well. We were so discouraged about our location that we stopped by different hotels to look at their rooms and get quotes. After getting some water, and not being able to find a SIM card we returned to our room. We told the staff we couldn’t find a SIM card and they were shocked. Well, we actually took the SIM card out of one of phones and showed it to them. The owner took our phones and drove out and got us two SIM cards. Apparently, what the stores advertise as SIM cards in Vietnam really refers to top-ups. I have no idea what a SIM card is called in Vietnam.

During our five days in Da Nang we went to the beach once. The beach was formerly known as China Beach during the Vietnam War. The beach in February was still chilly but I did go in.

We also found a seafood restaurant about 2 blocks down that we went to a couple of times. We had their seafood hot pot a couple of times, but their was a huge selection of seafood available but we weren’t sure of how to order or to say how much we wanted plus how we wanted it prepared. This place was always packed and cases of beer were delivered to the tables along with a bucket of ice. We think that the beer wasn’t cold because electricity is expensive, hence the ice is put in the beer glass. We have also seen this in Thailand. We were shocked to see people just tossing the shells 🐚 from the seafood on the floor, but we were told that’s the way it’s done. We could not believe how inexpensive the food was and the beer......get this. 11 beer 🍺 for $7.

If you have never been to Da Nang, you would be surprised to see high rises and tons of construction going on.

We decided that we would like to see Lady Buddha for one excursion, the Han Market another day, visit the beach again, and of course contact Mrs. Thao, my employer when I taught in Vietnam. So, the 5 days would be full