It was the right idea, a now tried and tested route; from long haul to short break; from moving around as much as we could to staying still, limiting need to beverage decision and the sugary dilemma of where to eat. Such sloth beguiled by willing hands paid at local rate; such was our jet lag we sank into neo-colonial roles and listened to the splash of pool water, the rustle of palm fronds and the chink of china on tiled tables; this was our mosaic for three days.
Hoi An itself wriggled at a slow pace unlike the jerky peristalsis of Saigon and the party people have made sure that this history has been ring-fenced; old timber protected from the tsunami of concrete pouring into the rest of the country. There is revenue in such preservation of course and nearby Danang is being cut up by rapid condo developments but there is also value for both visitor and expat alike. The pace of life has not entirely been kick started by aspiration; contentment exists as sometimes the status quo need not be changed.
