Da Nang and Nha Trang

February 24th, 2024 Fifty-two years ago today, my parents wed in Toledo, OH. My mom knew little English but fell in love with an American Soldier, and he whisked her halfway across the world. My family misses my dad dearly, but I pray we will meet again someday in heaven. Fast forward to the present, and in the past few weeks, my mom has returned to the city where they first met and explored a new locale. This post will focus on our time in Da Nang and Nha Trang. Da Nang We left Hoi An for Da Nang on a Tuesday morning and, 45 minutes later, arrived at our hotel. We have chosen a mix of homestays, apart-hotels, and hotel chains for this trip. Each has been very different – from modest to grand - and none have disappointed (i.e. no spider stories thus far!). During our last trip to Vietnam, we visited three significant sites around Da Nang: Marble Mountains, Son Tra Peninsula, and the iconic Dragon Bridge – that breathes real fire at night! We saw these on our way into and out of Hoi An but did not spend time in the city itself. After our three days in Da Nang this year, we cannot wait to return and get to know the area more.
Da Nang is perhaps the most internationally friendly city in Vietnam, according to many Vietnamese people we have spoken with. The open layout and orderly traffic starkly contrasts with others, particularly Saigon and Hanoi – where scores of motorbikes go every which way - sometimes down sidewalks or against traffic and through red lights - making walking no ordinary feat! Additionally, the grounds are immaculate, as strict laws exist against littering. Lastly, like other metropolitan areas in Vietnam, you can purchase imported food items – everything from baking powder to tortilla chips to cumin – which range from difficult to find to non-existent at local stores and in smaller cities. I am encouraging Drew to write a post on his hunt for baking powder - it will be a good one and a testament to the amazing kindness of the Vietnamese people! We spent two days in Da Nang visiting Ba Na Hills (picture a clean Las Vegas meets Epcot) and the beach. Ba Na Hills was built by the French as a resort area for tourists in the early 1900s and has developed as a world-famous amusement park through the years. It is known for a cable car that travels 3.6 miles long, above the forest and waterfalls, from the main station to the central areas of the park. The Golden Bridge is also a sight to see: massive hands appear to hold up a bridge that sits above the clouds. A few Instagrammers have made it famous before this post ;) The beach in Da Nang is also impressive and stretches far across the city. The kids enjoyed playing there with a young friend they made at the hotel. Also, when we were in Spain last summer, we purchased an inflatable boogie board that has been priceless on this trip! I think Abby will be ready and eager to try surfing lessons soon.
Nha Trang We boarded a sleeping bus from Da Nang to Nha Trang at 8 pm on a Friday evening. Nha Trang is where my parents first met while my mom worked as a waitress at the American Officers' Club. The sleeping bus was maybe a one-time event for us… a bit bumpy with many stops, so the sleeping part was minimal! Nonetheless, the kids loved it for the adventure and being able to stretch out more than is possible in planes or cars. We arrived at our destination around 7 am the next day and took a taxi to one of our favorite hotels from last year. The Vinpearl is well-known in Vietnam and many international travelers come through there. I cannot express how honored we were to have been remembered by a handful of the staff. They even mentioned Abby was in a cast the last time they saw her! We enjoyed the international breakfast buffet and a nap before doing anything else. The breakfast buffets in Vietnamese hotels are fantastic for our different tastes. Here is a typical meal when we have the option: Drew – omelet, bacon, pancakes; Lincoln and Abby – same as Drew, plus fruit and cake; Me – noodle soup or congee, meat, and steamed vegetables; Mom – same as me, plus more rice cake dishes. While in Nha Trang, we met with my mom's niece, nephew, and her nephew's family. She has fond memories of her brother, whom she was able to see on her first visit to Vietnam in 1993, but he has since passed. She has told me how kind of a man he was and we can see that attribute has been passed down through the generations. We had dinner the first night with her niece and then lunch with the entire family the following day. Abby and Lincoln played with their newfound family and enjoyed their time. Though we hadn't finished our meal until about 2pm, by 6pm that same evening, my mother's great nephew's wife produced custom-made Tet (Lunar New Year) outfits for Abby and even found one for Lincoln! That night, Drew commented, "They're just like the rest of your mom's family - so generous and thoughtful!". I couldn't agree more, and, God-willing, we will be back next year to spend more time together. After three days in Nha Trang, we took a 2.5-hour taxi ride to my mom's hometown of Tuy Hoa. Over the next 3 weeks, we would enjoy fellowship, fun, and food with the rest of our Vietnamese family. Thank you for reading…More to come!!!