Just down the road from Da Nang is everyone's favorite Vietnamese tourist destination: HOI AN! Hoi An is a shopper's mecca--it's
THE place to get custom tailoring done fast,
fast,
fast and enjoy a delicious meal while overlooking the quiet lantern-lit streets and river coursing though town. It's also the BEST place to shop for gifts or souveniers in all of Vietnam. In fact, the vast array of shops--all within the readily walkable limits of the old town--can seem like too much of a good thing. So we'd like to suggest that you consider checking out the SMILE HOUSE craft shop, situated behind the Confucian Temple at 126 Tran Hung Dao Street. It's just a little bit off the beaten path, but only a couple of blocks north-west of the famous Japanese Bridge. SMILE HOUSE is run by and for the benefit of the disabled community of Hoi An. There, your purchase will not only bring back memories of your travels in Vietnam, it will also help support and encourage young, disabled Vietnamese artisans. How's that for value-added shopping?
