The virus plaguing our world at the moment is a 'hot' topic and on the mind of all travellers, no matter where they are traveling. #Vietnam as a country which borders China and received over 4 million tourists last year was quick to implement strategies to mitigate the risk of further contamination, and to keep elements of fear and concern at a reasonable and rational level. Has that been achieved? What we know as of today 17.2.2020 It's a fact. There is a lot of media out there about the #Coronavirus epidemic/pandemic – #COVID -19 sending elements of fear into the minds of potential travellers to Vietnam. It's fair to say that many travellers have concerns. Based on perception or fact, they remain real. Let us take a look at what we know so far to hopefully put things in perspective. Lets first address the most recent news concerning a community of 10,000 people being quarantined to their village in Son Loi, approximately 60kms north of Hanoi; This recent quarantine measure in Son Loi is an example of Vietnam’s quick and decisive approach to mitigating risk. The community reported a 50-year-old man in Sơn Lôi Commune, Bình Xuyên District in Vĩnh Phúc Province. He is the father of a 23-year-old patient among eight Vietnamese workers sent to Wuhan for training last November and confirmed positive for the virus in January. To stamp out any further spread, the government acted promptly by zoning off, and quarantining the affected region in total. This approach, along with the following key actions has meant that in a population of approximately 96.2 million people, Vietnam has reported only 16 cases. Thankfully with good medical care, 7 of the patients have recovered and been released after receiving treatment. Please see below some of the current Vietnam Government strategies in place to mitigate risk and manage the spread of the virus:- 1. Closure of overland border crossings between China and Vietnam. Travellers in more remote border crossings into Vietnam are being denied entry if they possess any China visa history in their passport. 2. Vietnam stopped issuing visas for Chinese tourists on January 30 as a temporary measure. Flights to and from mainland China are suspended indefinitely. 3. Foreign visitors who have visited China (including transit) 14 days prior to arrival will also be denied entry into Vietnam. 4. Epidemic prevention training has been implemented for flight crews. 5. 14 day quarantine of all travellers from affected areas in China 6. Increased disease screening at International points of entry 7. 4 hospitals designated by the ministry of health to handle potential cases 8. Increased prevention measures adopted at all health care facilities 9. 45 Quick Response Medical teams to set up and manage hospitals nationwide to handle cases if they appear. 10. Cancellation of many festivals in Vietnam 11. Temporary closure of public schools in 63 provinces 12. Zone off and quarantine of affected areas in Vinh Phuc Province for 20 days It is important to keep things in perspective and note that while the Virus has appeared worldwide:- In regard to Vietnam: * The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 appeared in Vietnam on Jan. 23, 2020. Of the confirmed infections in Vietnam to date, 13 are Vietnamese, two are Chinese and one is American. The confirmed infections were found in the northern province of Vinh Phuc (11), in Ho Chi Minh City (3), Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province (1), and Thanh Hoa (1). Vietnam tour companies and allied businesses are taking their own steps to manage traveller safety. Many businesses are being fully trained and versed in all the recommended Government safety measures. In addition, eateries are paying extra attention to their cooking processes and quality of ingredients used. Whilst the virus continues to plague our world, in Vietnam you can see everyone is doing their best to ensure traveller safety and protect their borders. Like many other countries Vietnam is feeling the pinch badly, and wants to allay as many concerns as possible for its tourists. Please see below the links that may provide you more in-depth information. https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnam-business-operations-and-the-coronavirus-updates.html/ https://vietnamnews.vn/society/592219/special-task-force-sent-to-vinh-phuc-as-16th-coronavirus-patient-confirmed.html * https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/information-travellers-novel-coronavirus-vietnam I hope this article helps you make an informed decision about your next trip and we look forward to seeing you in Vietnam very soon. Please feel free to reach out to me at hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com if you have any further queries.

Just to mix things up a little, we strongly urge you to consider taking a Vespa Tour around Hoi An. There are many kinds of tours available; short around town and local village tours, evening restaurant hopping or longer tours of 2-3 day tours. Its crazy to say but once you get the bug, you will find it hard to want to go to places any other way! The riders are all well-trained, experienced, friendly and safety conscious, so don't worry, it’s just as important to them to make sure your journey is hazard-free. Its so worth checking out the website for all the options: http://vespaadventures.com/hoi-an-tours/ However, hellohoianvietnam has selected this tour as their favourite because it takes you to Hue via the Hai Van Pass and Langco Beach. So many great vantage points to shooting amazing vistas and steeped in history. But we don't want to give it all away…. You have to see it for yourself. You begin your Vespa Adventure as your experienced drivers bring you out of Hoi An & along the coastal road stopping at the North end of the world renowned Da Nang Beach. Then after a quick break on the suspension bridge overlooking Da Nang City & the fishing port, you head along Da Nang Bay and stop for a local-style coffee. Heading up the famous Hai Van Pass by motorbike, you’ll take in the amazing views over the bays before stopping at the top to see the old war battlements and bunkers & learn about the fascinating history and strategic importance of the pass. Then it’s back down the Hai Van Pass for fun hairpin bends and windy hill roads, before taking a brief stop to take in the amazing view of Lang Co Beach & Lagoon from near the level crossing. It’s back on the Vespas and after riding around a lagoon adorned with stilted houses & oyster farms, you’ll have a well-deserved Vietnamese lunch in a delightful local setting. The fascinating ride continues as we head north on to the quieter coastal road, passing through the magnificent rural countryside. You ride past many ancestral houses & tombs which play an important part in Vietnamese culture, known as the ‘City Of Ghosts’. You’ll then jump off the bikes and head up to a hilltop Buddhist pagoda with stunning views of the huge lagoon. After a break in a local cafe, you visit & learn about the history of a thousand-year-old Cham Temple and the Champa Kingdom. The final stretch takes us through yet more beautiful rural landscapes and local villages; you visit a local family making fish sauce, pass by many ornate tombs and ancestral houses and check out a local boat building yard before arriving in Hue city. The day and Hai Van Pass tour will conclude in Hue with drop off at the hotel. Please email us hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com and we can arrange either transport for your return and or hotel overnight. *Highlights* – Da Nang Beach, Hai Van Pass by Vespa motorbike (like Top Gear!), old war bunkers, hilltop Pagoda, ‘City of Ghosts’, Cham Temple, classic Vietnamese lunch, local fish sauce making family, boat building yard, conclude in Hue. If you would like to know more about the tours and book through us as an add on to another experience of your choice, please email us at hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com and we will work it into your stay. *Please note that your travel insurance may not cover if you have an accident so be aware that while this company is highly reputable, accidents do happen. Photo Credit: Vespa Tours facebook page. Thank you.

One thing is for sure, Ba Na Hills is nothing like you could possibly imagine! The name gives nothing away and believe it or not, it has gone crazy since I first posted about this attraction. So what has changed? .....Social media and a huge upswing in tourists. So let's start with some in-depth info that may help you plan your trip. Firstly, you need to understand it's location. It is located about 40-50 mins drive from Danang and about an hour from Hoi An. Ideally I would suggest for first timers you pre organise a driver and possibly even an English speaking Guide to escort you through the entry, ticket purchase and maze that is the whole area of Ba Na Hills/Sunworld. Because Ba Na Hills is now probably the most talked about place to visit while you are in Danang, when you go is extremely important to avoid the heat, and the crush of tourists taking selfies and jamming into areas that really don't support crowds. It has truly become overwhelming, and between 10-4pm it is at its busiest. If you can make it EARLY. Do so! I mean, be there at 8.30am and get on that cable car: Or visit late ( after 4.30pm) and do an overnight stay. Otherwise you had better be prepared for crowds everywhere. While it boasts the world’s Longest single-rope cable car system 5,801m and also the world’s highest angle between the departure station and the arrival station at 1,368m, it now features so much more than its recreation of a French village originally built over 100 years ago. Hard to believe, Right! In our eyes, the experience has changed from a kind of escape which can turn back the clock, to that of a full fantasy theme park. So for kids, they will be jumping for joy! For all the info see here https://banahills.sunworld.vn/ For those that would like to experience a slower more peaceful view of this attraction I would suggest an overnight stay and try and capture a sunset or sunrise if you can. There is ONLY one hotel which is the 4-star Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village Hotel. They just happen to own about 6 hotels on the lot. Wake up to a new day and you can imagine the panoramic views! The start of the cable car is about an hour drive from Hoi An. Email us at hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com if you would like more information.

For a very unique experience, you may like to consider a short drive out of Hoi An Old town to visit this amazing pottery village. Photo credit - Thanhhaterracotta village. Thank you. http://www.thanhhaterracotta.com/?mode=about&id=5 Steeped in history, the village is completely surrounded by water, and the museum is completely surrounded by the village. Its interior is designed like the houses of the pottery craftsman of old: the kiln (oven), the potter’s wheel, the workshop and the place for presentation. For the artists who live here, life is simple. Eating and sleeping is done where there is space left to do so. There is a small restaurant and two guest rooms. It is true devotion to their craft. The park is modelled after a potter’s wheel. The two big buildings found their origin not only in the Cham and Sa Huynh way of building, but they are also inspired by the two kinds of kiln’s in the village: the updraft and the downdraft kiln. When you enter the gallery and walk on the stairways to the top, you know for sure it is an updraft kiln. You move through the building like hot air moves through the kiln. Standing at the stairway on the upper floor that leads to the roof, you see only sky. One visitor noted that it looks like the stairway to heaven, and that might be the feeling of the fire in the updraft kiln; it can escape at the top. On the floor above the gallery, products are shown from other Vietnamese terracotta villages. The top floor is dedicated to the excavations that revealed how the Cham built and how people lived in the Sa Huynh time. Photo credit - Thanhhaterracotta village. Thank you. You may be surprised to see some of the structures and mini cities modelled out of clay! There are various ways you can experience the village. Our experienced Vietnamese guide can advise you on the best way to do this by arranging your visit directly with the organisers. Email us hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com for us to arrange this as part of your experience package.

If you are looking for the real Vietnam. The real Hoi An below some of the superficial tourist layers, then you probably can't go past Etienne Bossot to take you there. Etienne runs very popular photo tours throughout Vietnam and Indochina. As he puts it, he is living his dream; living in Vietnam and sharing his craft and love of photography with like-minded people. His team and his travels extend far beyond Hoi An and Vietnam these days, as you can see here on his website https://www.picsofasia.com/ But if you would like to bring that camera you’ve been dying to use and be taken to some truly authentic and sweet locations for photos, this is where you come to book. Plus, you get to learn a thing or two along the way. We would strongly suggest you look at the popular Sunrise or Sunset tours in Hoi An http://www.hoianphototour.com/, as these give you an opportunity to view Hoi An in those special hours of the day that provide the most amazing light, shadows and angles. We can of course arrange this for you, as you may want to add this into a combination of experiences through hellohoianvietnam. Please email us hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com for more details and a specially reduced price. Photo credit: Etienne Bossot. Thank you.

Relatively new to Hoi An is this amazing, western-style, ultra-modern theme park. If you are looking for a variation on Disneyworld, this is it! This is one experience that is definitely aimed at kids and families. Not something you would expect in Quang Nam province, but here it is and very popular with visitors from Russia, Korea and China. Stretching over an area of approximately 62 hectares, Vin Pearl Land Nam Hoi An is the ultimate destination for adventure. Guests will be welcome by 12 giant ships parked on the river at the entrance followed by a range of state-of-the-art entertainment. The amusement park features unique and thrilling rides, such as the Fast & Furious, the Fall of the Century, and Tornado Turbulence. In addition, visitors can experience the cultural heritage of Vietnam on a boat trip exploring the Connecting Harbour, with the miniature Hoi An ancient town. It’s an experience for all the family but not one you will necessarily need to have a guide with you. It is located south of Hoi An and you will need to arrange a car and driver to get you there. Allow 15- 20 mins drive and at least a 3-hour stay (or maybe all day!) It is open from 8.00am to 9.00pm However, this can change seasonally so be sure to check their website https://www.vinpearl.com/en/vinpearl-nam-hoi-an-resort-villas/entertainment/vinpearl-land-nam-hoi-an-511 Photo Credit: All photos here are from Vinpearl -nam-hoi resort website. Thank you

Firstly, they don’t have the word “Little” in their name by accident. Whether you know it or not, it is the “little” things that make a hotel different, and this hotel group has them in spades. 5 to be exact and counting. It must be hard for an intending traveller to decipher the best choice for a truly local experience that doesn’t blow their budget. From my latest check on websites like Booking.com and Agoda etc, there are hundreds of places to choose from. So first up; The Little Hoi An Group is locally owned. They are not part of an overseas chain. I thought this worth mentioning because no one wants, what I refer to as a “Cookie Cutter type version” of a hotel, that you could stay anywhere in the world. You want something that feels like the real deal. This hotel group actually breaks dirt. They build their hotels from the ground up and their design focus is on capturing the charm and soul of Hoi An. Each hotel offers its individual kind of charm, but the general theme of design and quality finishings is consistent in all the hotels. A couple of things to note:- * All the hotels have fully equipped modern gyms and spotless Spas and Wellness centres with fully trained staff * Little Riverside Hotel offers a rooftop pool and bar * They own their own cruise ship for day or evening dinner cruises * You get the shuttle, bikes to ride around town and wifi FREE * You have access to their FREE private beach club Getting down to the detail again, did I mention "The bathrooms"? They are divine. To me a hotel that offers spacious bathrooms has their guests interests truly at heart. With an average room size of 40Sqm across all the hotels, that's certainly not little in my book. Currently the group boasts 5 hotels in their portfolio, so the traveler has a great range to choose from and as the standard across all of them is so high is the reason they have got the HELLO rating of a 10. If you prefer a beach stay, Little Beach Hotel would be your best choice, only 5 mins shuttle bus to An Bang beach. If you’d rather be close to the Old Town you have a choice of 4 hotels, La Residencia, Allegro, Little Riverside and Little Boutique in Cam Pho. All within easy walking distance to the historic parts of town and the restaurant districts. I have been staying at these hotels as they have come up for over 6 years. As each one is opened, I have to check it out. Every time I do I meet people who are doing the same thing, as they can't go past the service and luxury that remains constant across all the hotels as they come on. If I haven’t mentioned the food the hotels offer yet, I’ve been remiss! Italian Master Chef Giovanni leads the group’s sophisticated Asian Fusion menu, while still offering authentic Vietnamese favourites. As I have said, “nothing is too big or little” to ask for, so be prepared to have your palette tantalised with some great flavours and nutritious food. 2020 will see them break dirt once again to build a new Luxury brand beginning with another site in Hoi An called Little Charm and one in Danang called Bayview Danang. Watch this space! Consistency is definitely the key and repeat visitors are the best measure that “little” things DO matter. Hello Rating: H - Rating 10 E - Authentic experience. The feeling of 5 star service L - Above average level of service L - Variety of locations ideally positioned close to beach or to The Old Town O - Room size and level of service most outstanding feature consistent across all hotels To find out more about the hotel check them out here, or send us a message. https://littlehoiangroup.com/ If you would like us to arrange a special deal for your stay, please contact us directly at whataboutvietnam@gmail.com

A relatively new stop on the tourist map in Hoi An is this amazing Museum put together by French photographer Rehahn. Allow yourself to be transported to the furthest reaches of Vietnam and enjoy dwelling in the company of some of French photographer Réhahn's most highly precious collection. Preserved and told through stories of how Rehahn came to find these tribes you will get to experience 5 rooms:- * The Fine Art Room * Central and Southern Vietnam * Northern Vietnam * Coffee room The Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum is located in an ancient French colonial house, which is situated in the UNESCO part of Hoi An. It is the culmination of 7 years of his on-going exploration of Vietnam’s many ethnic groups. It is estimated there are approximately 54 ethnic tribes, Rehahn has already captured 49 of those and feature them all in this museum. The 500 sqm art space is home to more than 60 authentic traditional costumes, over 200 photos, precious artefacts and stories translated in French, English and Vietnamese. The building itself is located in a tranquil part of town, away from the hustle and bustle, in what is known as the Old French Quarter. You should allow about an hour to explore all of the rooms and enjoy a coffee at the same time. Having met Rehahn and had a personal tour by him you can easily see his love and desire to celebrate and keep alive central Vietnamese history. Having already honoured 49 ethnic groups, we think he has only about 5-6 to go. The Gallery also includes Rehahn's works from North Vietnam, India and Cuba. They are amazing photos and some of them adorn my walls at home. Rehahn’s love of Vietnam and its people knows no bounds and is evident in the gallery he has created, so definitely include a visit in your stay. 26 Phan Boi Chau Open from 8am to 8pm – 7/7 days FREE ENTRY http://www.rehahnphotographer.com/gallery-hoi-an-vietnam/ Thank you to Rehahn for allowing HelloHoianvietnam the use of these photos from his gallery. Please email us hellohoianvietnam@gmail.com if you would like to include this into your experience of Hoi An and we will arrange a guide to join you and possibly take you to other places in the Art District. Photo Credit: All photos here are accredited to and provided by Rehahn Photography as the photographer. Thank you.