Monday, October 29, 2007
Hoi Ann, how charming you are indeed!
Tag lined in guidebooks as "the place in Vietnam to take your time", I'd have to say that Hoi Ann lives up to expectations. Quaint, small, and oozing charm from every corner, I really can't resist the temptation to use the word cute in this instance.
With great food, cheap accommodations and wonderful markets, Hoi Ann also boasts a beautiful riverside walk. I found many lovely shops and restaurants to relax and live life just a tad bit little slower.
Hoi Ann is also the place to get clothes and shoes tailor made. There are many styles on display, as well as many stores with signs reading "we have internet! you choose, we make!" With debates in the fashion industry precisely concerning the infringement of intellectual property, a place like Hoi Ann would definitely add to the heat.
Given, they are no tailors of haute couture. But they sure can make lots of wonderful things. Pick your style and fabric, they will measure you head to toe for about 5 minutes, and you pick up your order the next day. I recommend not asking them to make anything too far from the styles in the store, because you probably won't get what you want. With many great cheap tailors in Hong Kong, I opted to have some fun and design my own dress for about $12. Check it out!
Me in my red creation, and my rented bike on the streets of Hoi Ann.
From here, I decided to fly to Hanoi instead of enduring the 20+ hours train ride. I would do it actually, but I'm kind of short on time. There's something very strange about domestic air travel in Vietnam. The national airline, Vietnam Airlines, is subsidized by the government and render the oddest pricing scheme I have ever experienced in air travel.
What is this oddity? It is that the price of tickets is the same everyday, no matter of the date of purchase. This complete disregard for consumer demand and preferences was shocking to me. My only suspicion for the airline's lack of interest to maximize their profits is that it makes it easier for the employees of the airline. No pricing model, no mess for anybody. It rather fits the socialist attitude, easy air travel for all. I paid $65 for a ticket to Hanoi for a flight less than 24 hours before departure without a wink. After all, I'm just a free rider on the perks of an inefficient system.
Plus, paying $20 more to save 20 hours sounds like a deal to me.
Tag lined in guidebooks as "the place in Vietnam to take your time", I'd have to say that Hoi Ann lives up to expectations. Quaint, small, and oozing charm from every corner, I really can't resist the temptation to use the word cute in this instance.With great food, cheap accommodations and wonderful markets, Hoi Ann also boasts a beautiful riverside walk. I found many lovely shops and restaurants to relax and live life just a tad bit little slower.
Hoi Ann is also the place to get clothes and shoes tailor made. There are many styles on display, as well as many stores with signs reading "we have internet! you choose, we make!" With debates in the fashion industry precisely concerning the infringement of intellectual property, a place like Hoi Ann would definitely add to the heat.
Given, they are no tailors of haute couture. But they sure can make lots of wonderful things. Pick your style and fabric, they will measure you head to toe for about 5 minutes, and you pick up your order the next day. I recommend not asking them to make anything too far from the styles in the store, because you probably won't get what you want. With many great cheap tailors in Hong Kong, I opted to have some fun and design my own dress for about $12. Check it out!
Me in my red creation, and my rented bike on the streets of Hoi Ann.From here, I decided to fly to Hanoi instead of enduring the 20+ hours train ride. I would do it actually, but I'm kind of short on time. There's something very strange about domestic air travel in Vietnam. The national airline, Vietnam Airlines, is subsidized by the government and render the oddest pricing scheme I have ever experienced in air travel.
What is this oddity? It is that the price of tickets is the same everyday, no matter of the date of purchase. This complete disregard for consumer demand and preferences was shocking to me. My only suspicion for the airline's lack of interest to maximize their profits is that it makes it easier for the employees of the airline. No pricing model, no mess for anybody. It rather fits the socialist attitude, easy air travel for all. I paid $65 for a ticket to Hanoi for a flight less than 24 hours before departure without a wink. After all, I'm just a free rider on the perks of an inefficient system.
Plus, paying $20 more to save 20 hours sounds like a deal to me.
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