Hoi An -- A Real Vacation

Kevin and I arrive in Hoi An, a lovely town that thrives on tourism. A major port during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, it declined when its river silted up in the late 1800s. Off the beaten track in the 20th century, it escaped being ravaged by the French and American Wars. The architecture evokes the history of the Chinese and other foreign communities that set up shop in Hoi An; many descendents of Chinese merchants still live here. We settle in for two days at an old hotel and acquiesce to our role as foreigners with money and leisure time to spend.