Very pleased that we chose to stay in Đà Nẵng instead of Hội An. Not very fond of Hội An with all its touristy vibes. Đà Nẵng feels more residential, with its shops and businesses for locals. If you're not interested in urbanscapes, the individual pulse of a city or just hanging out in a new place without needing to do anything, then Đà Nẵng isn't for you. I've heard fellow tourists complain that there's nothing to do in Đà Nẵng and more to see and do in Hội An. Well, it depends on what type of visitors you are. It's tough to find souvenir or tailor shops in Đà Nẵng. Thank gawwd. If you want those things, go to the tourist trap that is Hội An Ancient Town. Plenty of that.
The town is split into this side of the Hàn River and the other. One that's nearer to the airport is the business side of town containing a soon-to-open California Fitness gym, a fake Apple Cafe with copied-identical logo and all, a KFC outlet and many offices. The side we visited is more residential. Lots of local shops that the residents frequent. Selling brooms, pots and pans, furniture, mirrors, plastic homeware stuff, jewelry shops, etc. Đà Nẵng City is very much for people on work trips and domestic tourists, completely different from the chaos and noise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City where tourists can wander around easily on their own. Taxis aren't plentiful here. It's a 30-minute drive into town from the corner of Son Tra Peninsula where our resort is. Took a private car on full-day disposal. Anyway, we hold local data-SIM cards. 3G works great. Unlimited data. All sorted.
First thing we did was to stop by the morning market. Which is also a night market, depending on whether the stall keepers finish selling their wares. It isn't like a designated market. The stalls pop up where there's space on the pavement near a major intersection. Heh. Lots of fruits and vegetables dotting the streets. People squatting down to chat or play a few rounds of chess. Was very happy to stroll along the streets soaking up the vibes of Đà Nẵng so vastly different from Vietnam's two other bigger and more crowded cities. I walk very fast, but what a pity I can't cycle, otherwise I could cover even greater distances.
One aim of this jaunt- to buy fish sauce. Heeeeee. Good Thai fish sauce can be found rather easily at the supermarket at Golden Mile Centre. But one can't quite get good nước mắm in Singapore. Whatever I can find in Đà Nẵng will be good enough. The driver was rather amused. I guess fewer people come here to buy fish sauce than to tailor clothes and buy trinkets.
Saw packs of dried Quảng noodles and seriously thought about buying it. LOVE mì Quảng. Almost tempted to re-create it at home. The man doesn't like it enough to cook it. He's a phở person. So if I want to eat it, I'll have to cook it. HORRORS. It'd be easy grabbing ingredients, even those mint leaves. Am sure someone grows it in the garden, or the Thai supermarket sells it. But rice noodles are best fresh. That's an item I can't buy in Singapore. Although I'll be damned if I try to pound it out from rice flour. o.O
The town is split into this side of the Hàn River and the other. One that's nearer to the airport is the business side of town containing a soon-to-open California Fitness gym, a fake Apple Cafe with copied-identical logo and all, a KFC outlet and many offices. The side we visited is more residential. Lots of local shops that the residents frequent. Selling brooms, pots and pans, furniture, mirrors, plastic homeware stuff, jewelry shops, etc. Đà Nẵng City is very much for people on work trips and domestic tourists, completely different from the chaos and noise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City where tourists can wander around easily on their own. Taxis aren't plentiful here. It's a 30-minute drive into town from the corner of Son Tra Peninsula where our resort is. Took a private car on full-day disposal. Anyway, we hold local data-SIM cards. 3G works great. Unlimited data. All sorted.
First thing we did was to stop by the morning market. Which is also a night market, depending on whether the stall keepers finish selling their wares. It isn't like a designated market. The stalls pop up where there's space on the pavement near a major intersection. Heh. Lots of fruits and vegetables dotting the streets. People squatting down to chat or play a few rounds of chess. Was very happy to stroll along the streets soaking up the vibes of Đà Nẵng so vastly different from Vietnam's two other bigger and more crowded cities. I walk very fast, but what a pity I can't cycle, otherwise I could cover even greater distances.
One aim of this jaunt- to buy fish sauce. Heeeeee. Good Thai fish sauce can be found rather easily at the supermarket at Golden Mile Centre. But one can't quite get good nước mắm in Singapore. Whatever I can find in Đà Nẵng will be good enough. The driver was rather amused. I guess fewer people come here to buy fish sauce than to tailor clothes and buy trinkets.
Saw packs of dried Quảng noodles and seriously thought about buying it. LOVE mì Quảng. Almost tempted to re-create it at home. The man doesn't like it enough to cook it. He's a phở person. So if I want to eat it, I'll have to cook it. HORRORS. It'd be easy grabbing ingredients, even those mint leaves. Am sure someone grows it in the garden, or the Thai supermarket sells it. But rice noodles are best fresh. That's an item I can't buy in Singapore. Although I'll be damned if I try to pound it out from rice flour. o.O
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