30th January to 3rd February, 2025

Here we are, happily ensconced at the Palm Garden Resort on the outskirts of Hoi An, about half way up the very long coast of Vietnam. We arrived on Thursday, 30/1 and it is already nearly a week into our stay, which seems to have flown by.

We had a pretty seamless journey here, driving the 2 hours 20 minutes back to Phuket, returning the hire car, having help to ferry Val around the airports (Phuket, Bangkok, Da Nang), two short flights (just as well as Air Asia are very similar to EasyJet with very limited legroom for 6 foot and above) and an efficient taxi to take us from Da Nang to Hoi An.

Our hotel is very nice, large manicured grounds , a lovely swimming pool and on the beach.

We had to laugh, as the first impressions were decidedly mixed. We were met at reception and offered the usual drink (ginger and honey, very nice) and the cold towel (don’t eat it!), but on enquiring about table tennis, we were horrified to be advised that there was none, despite it being advertised on the website. Feeling a bit despondent about that, we went to look at our room, which initially looked very nice, but on closer inspection seems to be almost totally devoid of any storage space. There is effectively one shelf for clothes and that is it.

It really does make you wonder if the person who designs some of these hotel rooms actually stays in them. It would seem, that said, by the surprised delight from the staff to our advising them that we are staying 2 weeks at the hotel, that most people stay one to three nights and then move on, so maybe they live out of their suitcase. Still very odd though – and don’t even start me on the towel rail in the bathroom!! Haha, first world problems, eh?

The end result of all this is that we have had to be our usual creative selves and have managed to get ourselves settled and our room as we like it. AND, guess what, they DO have table tennis (and darts). Apparently Tan, who first met us on arrival, is quite new and didn’t know they had it. End result, we are very happy!

The hotel has some very convenient shops on the other side of the street which cater for most needs of the tourists from the hotels nearby. We wandered out on our second evening in search of something to eat, but there was not a lot open as it was the Lunar New Year or Tet as it is known in Vietnam. Those history buffs out there might recall the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War (or the American War as they call it here). We did find one restaurant that could take us, where we ordered way too much (but still managed to eat it all). We had not at this point found an ATM, so could only pay with the credit card, which we discovered, they do not take. No problem, says mine host, just pay me when you can. Wonderful! I would add that we have paid them!

We wandered round the streets locally for a bit, enjoying the sights of flags, lanterns, lots of chrysanthemums and other plants and families enjoying the new year together. The latter seems to involve a family meal and playing cards.

We are already settled into a routine of table tennis, darts and the gym. We have met the redoubtable Lily who, with her family, runs a restaurant and spa across the road. She is formidable – they run tours, there is the spa, the restaurant and she does our laundry too. We even asked her where we could get some bananas and she immediately sent her mother out the back to sell us two. Val asked her if she knew somewhere that Val could get a haircut and guess what, her brother does it!! Her sister will be happy to make Val a dress too, if required.

Ok, I will leave this one there. Needless to say, we are loving the food, but are working hard in the gym. The local people are wonderfully friendly with quite a good command of English. We went into Hoi An Old Town last Saturday, which was an experience – which I will cover in the next post. Quite a few photos!!