Over the Cloud Pass to Hoi An

Our brief stay in Hué ended this morning at 9 AM. The upcoming leg took us past the Lap An Lagoon, over the Hai-Van Pass, to Da Nang and the Marble Mountains, and finally to Hoi An, our destination for the next five days.

Tony, our driver, steered the car safely south. First stop: Lap An Lagoon. Well, there are certainly prettier lagoons in Vietnam, and if there hadn't been a café attached to this stop, it would hardly have been worth it from our perspective. Still, depending on the time of day, you can at least enjoy a delicious coffee drink.

The subsequent drive over the Hai-Van or Cloud Pass was already more interesting. The road is considered one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world and offers spectacular views. By the way: The night train we arrived on from Hanoi yesterday also winds its way through this scenic region on its journey south.

As we overcame the pass, the view of Da Nang's skyline opened up before us. The Miami of Southeast Asia combines Western flair with traditional Vietnamese culture. The city is a growing hotspot right by the sea and therefore a popular holiday destination for people from all over the world. However, since the hustle and bustle does not really appeal to us, we only stop here to visit the Marble Mountains.

The Marble Mountains in Da Nang are a famous collection of five limestone and marble rocks. They symbolize the traditional Far Eastern elements of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. The mountains house an extensive network of caves, temples, viewpoints, and former war tunnels. Today's outside temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius made the visit a challenge. After several unintentional climbing forays through caves and passages, we had enough. Sweating buckets, we headed back to the air-conditioned car.

After that, we went to Hoi An. The city of lanterns and tailors is now our chosen destination. Upon arriving at the hotel, it was time for a short break before heading out fresh and lively to explore the beautiful old town. More on this in the coming days.

While traveling, you meet people... or run into acquaintances. 8930 kilometers away from Coswig, we met my dear colleague Benny and his girlfriend today. We took advantage of the moment for a joint dinner before parting ways again.

We wish you both a fantastic holiday.

In this spirit: See you in Spitzi! ;-)