Hoi An

  I am Elaine Elizabeth Jinto, and I am 13 years old. I am from India, and I love to travel. Along with traveling, I enjoy reading, writing, eating, and innovating. I dream of becoming a writer and a business woman. In my blogs I am going to write about some of the trips, books, restaurants, and unique experiences that captivated me. I hope my blogs will encourage you to experience new things too. So, recently I went to Vietnam, which is a country in South East Asia, and I want to share my experiences. But first I have to tell you that before I went there I had no idea that Vietnam was such a beautiful place. As far as I knew, it was a place where people ate Pho noodles and made Pho noodles all their lives. Luckily, the moment I got there I realized that it was one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. Vietnam has a lot of nice places you can choose from, Halong Bay, Hoi an, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and De Nang to name a few. My family chose De Nang city. (You might have heard of it because Bill Gates has been there.) Anyway, De Nang is really nice, and it is close to many of Vietnam’s tourist highlights. First let me tell you about all the places you can visit. Hoi An- A UNESCO World Heritage Sight. Hoi An is an ancient city close to De Nang. It was a busy port in the 15th-16th century, and now it is a busy tourist spot. The area is famous for its historical landmarks, cultural vibe, shops, and most importantly—lanterns.  A whole day would be required to take in and experience everything at this unique tourist spot. A walk around the ancient city should be the first thing to do. The street food and shopping is really delightful, and there are many museums and temples you can visit. You can get the tickets at the Hoi An tourism desk and wander around and see what you like at your own pace. There are also cultural performances, near the riverfront museums in the evenings, and you can spend a wonderful hour there, seeing Vietnamese culture at its best. The best part of the show is when you can join the performers and play Bai Choi, which is a traditional Vietnamese game, which is a lot like bingo and housie. At night you can see the lit up, iconic lanterns which make Hoi An famous. A good place to observe the beauty of these lanterns would be at the riverfront, where you could also go on a mini-cruise or ride on a cycle rickshaw, and take in the wonders of Hoi An. Whatever your age, interests, likes and dislikes, you will definitely find something you like at Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. P.S: I would suggest that you prepare an itinerary before you go. Also remember the afternoons can get really hot. Take me to Sun World, Ba Na Hills Ba Na Hills used to be a French settlement in the 18th-19th century, built because the Europeans could not bear the Vietnamese heat. It was bought and renovated by Sun World, who made it a theme park. A lot of the original buildings are still there, and now they house restaurants, shops, theatres, gaming arcades, and much more. After a 45 minute drive from De Nang city, you have to ride a record-breaking cable car to get to the top of the hill. Literally record breaking, because Ba Na hills had the longest, unsupported cable car system for many years. The views from the cable cars are spellbinding, especially the waterfall, and the small streams that lead up to it.  Once you get to your desired cable car station you can grab a brochure, and spend the day doing what you like, where you like, and when you like. I enjoyed Luna Castle, the Atlas Statue, the French village, pagoda and the Debay wine cellar. (It is really cool, and you can get child-friendly wine there!) The gardens were epic, and there was one I really loved with Roman columns, French mills, and ballerina topiaries. Another awesome part was seeing actual suits of armor, with griffins emblazoned on them. I must warn you that there is a lot to see, and you will have a lot of walking to do, so it would be a good idea to use the quaint, old fashioned Funicular trains whenever you can. The highlight of the trip was seeing the golden bridge, which is held up not by pillars, but by two giant hands made of rocks. Ba Na Hills is just the place to spend a hot afternoon exploring a fine fusion of Vietnamese and French culture. Marble Mountains The 5 Marble Mountains are sacred places of worship, and only one is open for tourists. The 5 mountains are named after the elements and are filled with beautiful Buddha shrines, statues, and tranquil areas for meditating. There is a lift that goes all the way up, and you can use the stairways on the way back, and see everything. There is a beautiful view, and you can see the beach and the city from up there. You do not need much time at Marble Mountains, but whatever you do don’t miss it. P.S: There are many beautiful souvenirs made of marble which you can get there. De Nang City Amidst all this beauty there is a big city, with a plethora of sky scrapers at the center of the city. The place looks amazing at night, and there are cruises along the river at night. The main attraction there is the Dragon bridge, which is, no surprise, shaped like a huge golden dragon. At night it breathes fire and water, and it looks totally amazing. A good place to eat dinner when you are at the city would be the