Waking up to sunshine really helps to set you in a good mood for the day. So it was today in Da Nang.

Andy woke early and feeling particularly healthy, went for a 10k run along the seafront.

We are checking out of our hotel this morning and taking a short taxi journey 20k south to Hoi An, where we have booked to stay in a country retreat called the Little Oasis.

Arriving in Hoi An, a return visit after our brief stay a month or so back, we realised why we decided to come back. The place is stunningly beautiful and we have landed on our feet, with a great find on Booking.com a stunning boutique spa hotel half way between Hoi An town and the beach.

We were greeted with the most amazing hospitality, complimentary welcome drinks, a voucher for a evening meal at the hotel and discount offers against a host of things including restaurants in the town, tailors and tours to do. Within an hour we’ve booked tonight’s restaurant in the town, a walking tour, a day trip to My Son sanctuary, an archaeological Chang temple site.

It was then time to go and explore the hotel pools and relax in the sunshine and make further plans for the next few days.

After a quick shower and change, we made a detour to the hotel bar for a swift Saigon beer, before getting a lift into Hoi An for a wander around the town before dinner at Little Faifo, a stunning Vietnamese restaurant.

Whilst we have been to Hoi A before, going back solo made us realise how right we were to return. It’s such a pretty place and full of great restaurants as well as a bevy of shops selling leather goods and cashmere & silk scarves which may end up ‘investing in’ by the end of our stay!

There’s so much to see whilst wandering the streets, with local craftsman making decorative pieces for the many tourists, many of which appear to emanate from South Korea who have taken over from the Chinese in recent years.

Seeing the town in the daylight is great, but it takes on a magical feel once the sunsets and the lanterns come to life.

We spent a hour or so looking for gifts for our daughter Amelia, before Michelle wilted and bought herself some Gucci lookalike sunglasses!

After a hunt to find the restaurant we eventually found the place and were instantly impressed by our table spot, sitting on the veranda over looking the street and river beyond. The food was a mix of Vietnamese and Indian, so we tried a bit of both tapas style accompanied by a cool Saigonese lager 333.

As the evening wore on the place got busier and there was a lovely atmosphere, accompanied by good service and very reasonably priced food & drinks.

After going for post dinner drinks in one of the small bars close to the river, we headed back to the hotel who conveniently provide a complimentary courtesy bus to pick you up. The hotel has proven to be a great find and we plan to stay for at least a week, given how reasonably priced the place is and the good service on offer.

Here’s looking forward to another enjoyable day tomorrow.