http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31306 Since Australian Geoff Shaw set up Project Indochina eight years ago, this NGO has provided homes and medicines for the poor and installed waste and water treatment plants in schools and hospitals throughout Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
All proceeds from White Lotus go to the charity. The restaurant is also doing its bit to help break Vietnam’s poverty chain by employing and training local staff from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The restaurant is extremely clean and stylish and the food of a very high standard. Hoi An spring rolls will set you back 45,000 dong (£1.40), veggie mains 40,000 dong (£1.20) speciality mains 100,000 (£3) and pizzas 70,000 (£2.10).
Cookery courses with the head chef can also be arranged, which involve going to the local market to buy fresh produce, then returning to the restaurant by boat to prepare the food.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31306 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31209 One last hint: pack as little as possible!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31209 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28239 The food is brilliant and served in reasonable portion. We thoroughly enjoyed the spring roll and tuna coated in tamarind sauce. All for $7.5 per person! For drink we went for tropical storm and i must say it's amazing.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28239 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26630 Exploring the old city is fun and rewarding, restored buildings galore and a sense of timelessness prevails.
If you fancy the beach to escape the sun it's only a few minutes away.
I also recommend the Dai Long hotel for a well priced budget place to stay that is clean and well managed.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26630 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26099 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26099 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25486 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25486 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25285 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25285 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14767
It’s very easy to get completely carried away with the idea of getting an entire wardrobe tailormade. I came back with a bagful of stuff - most of which went straight to the charity shop.

It’s best to know exactly what you want - take pictures from magazine or, better still, a favourite from your wardrobe for them to copy.

Getting shoes tailormade is even more exciting but equally risky - the materials are poor and the craftmanship not great. I spent hours in various shops and had a great time but picking and choosing the cloth/style was definitely the highlight - the final results a bit of a let down.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14767 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14766
Crumbling intricately carved temples and columns being swallowed up by the jungle. Well worth a visit.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14766 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14765
Squid in lemongrass and chilli was tender and tasty and the Vietnamese spring rolls were gorgeous.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14765 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14611
Cafe des Amis serves a set meal each evening (I forget how many courses). The only choice is seafood or veggie and it is utterly delicious food. If you are veggie, you'll be sick of spring rolls and stir-fried greens by the time you get to Hoi An, and Cafe des Amis will provide some very welcome and tasty variety.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14611 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14473
The best Cao Lau (noodle dish with crispy won tons) and white rose (steamed rice paper wrapped shrimp) made to the owner Bup's mother's secret recipe.

Bup also runs reasonably priced cooking classes during opening hours, so even if you don't join in you can watch at a safe distance from your table.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14473 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14456
The BoBo Cafes found in other Vietnamese cities have nothing to do with the orignal in Hoi An - they are owned and run by different people who have 'borrowed' (SE Asian-style) the name!

Also, for a decent and inexpensive Hoi An tailor's shop try 'Mr Xe' at the bottom of the same road.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14456 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10113
Sounds obvious but we just assumed it was. They made a great song and dance of the fact that breakfast was included and, when we were eating said breakfast a few km from My Son, our guide announced that we had to pay up for the entrance fee.

No turning back at that point!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10113 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10018
Free wifi, and a beautiful, chilled-out garden, too. Easily the best hotel in our three weeks of travelling around Vietnam.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10018 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9424 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9424 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9166
For a very affordable price, you get the kind of accommodation many hardened Asia travellers have almost forgotten existed.

The all-but brand-new rooms are beautifully set out with carved ebony furniture and the bathroom alone is worth the charge.

That’s before you taste the food. Hoi An is not only Vietnam’s best-preserved old town but one of its culinary capitals too.

If you tire of the hotel restaurant, check out Tien’s just across the road for an even better choice of cheap but sumptuous Vietnamese fare.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9166 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8790
There are deckchairs to rent and kiosks selling fresh seafood and drinks, as well as a few restaurants and top-end hotels.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8790 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8749
Serves European dishes and a selection of cocktails as well as local beer.

One of the few late-night bars in Hoi An, with good music and pool table, darts, board games and book exchange.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8749 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8682
By the next day and for a few US dollars (I had a silk dress made for $12 and a suit for $20) you can get a whole new wardrobe made to measure, including shoes.

And if you overdo the shopping and run out of space in your bags, the local post office are experts in shipping parcels home.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8682