Da Nang

We try to avoid day train trips that last more than a few hours, but we didn't have much choice for our transportation to Da Nang. 

We got on the Reunification Express (Express is a strong word, sometimes i felt like i could run faster) in Doi Hong at around 8am and arrived in Da Nang at about 1:20pm. The trip cost us about $9 each.

It was comfortable and the scenery along the way was picturesque.

At one point, train employees came by with a "merch cart", selling shirts and hats that said "Vietnam Railways".

 We thought that was hilarious and i couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy Helmut a t-shirt! 

We got off the train without a place to stay but the guy from Farmstay recommended a place called Sea Phoenix Hotel. Google maps said it was 3.3 miles away. The train station taxi touts were hard at work trying to get our business. We asked how much to the Sea Phoenix and they tried to say 400,000 dong which is about $17.00 U.S. We laughed. They then tried  300,000...then 200,000. Finally we just walked away and eventually got there for 100,000. Much better. 

It definitely pays to know how to bargain here. 

The Sea Phoenix was too pricey so we went around the corner to the Fansipan Hotel and got a room for about $35 about a block from the beach. 

We are here in Danang for the surf, but the waves are blown out. We booked a place closer to Hoi An for the next 2 days instead since Danang doesn't have a lot going on. 

We did have dinner at a lovely restaurant around the corner though. They had some interesting menu options...

Fox, Swine, Porcupine, Frog,  Pangolin and Rat

and the owner showed us a live snake he could cook up if we wanted. 

We politely declined and had some kind of pork thing instead. 

Seeing the snake made eating there worth it...despite the rat we saw running into the kitchen right before we left.