Our day started with a tour of the My Son ruins, a little over an hour drive from Hoi An. My Son was once the intellectual and religious center of the Cham civilization which ruled central & southern Vietnam for centuries. Built between the 4th and 13th centuries, the complex is perhaps the longest inhabited archaeological site in mainland Southeast Asia. The entire complex at one time contained over 70 temples. Sadly, a large majority of its architecture was destroyed first by French forces in the mid-50’s and later by US B52 bombing during a single week of the Vietnam War as the Viet Cong based their headquarters in the area. There are quite a few bomb craters still visible on the grounds and signs warn of closed-off areas where mines have not been cleared. Reconstruction is ongoing, much of which is jointly financed by the Vietnamese and Indian governments. We were lucky with our timing and were able to watch a Champa dance performance.
Once back in Hoi An we walked back into the city’s Old Town. The tailors had finished our custom-made clothing. I liked my shirts so much I asked that a few more be made. There are some interesting shops in town and a good-sized street market. Mary scored a cool t-shirt and I picked up some vintage propaganda posters. The town is beautiful with small boats on the river and lanterns everywhere.
The crowds really picked up after nightfall. A popular activity is to rent time on one of the many sampans which ply the river and to release floating lanterns into the water. It’s quite the spectacle to watch. After dinner at the Morning Glory restaurant, we headed back to the hotel for an early evening.
Dick