The iconic Japanese Covered Bridge is a beautiful example of the Japanese architecture of the period. Connecting Tran Phu Street with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, the bridge was constructed in the 1590’s by the Japanese community of Hoi An, in order to create a link with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Over the centuries the ornamentation of the bridge has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design. Its simplicity contrasts greatly with the Vietnamese and Chinese penchant for wild decoration. The French flattened out the roadway to make it more suitable for their motor vehicles, but the original arched shape was restored during major renovation work carried out in 1986. We spent the next few hours bimbling up and down the little streets full of souvenir and lantern shops, eateries and jewellers and of course tailors. Here you can have a suit whipped up overnight in banana or chilli print through to the finest silk. In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a “well-preserved example of a south-east Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, with buildings that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences”. 

A three and a half ton Chalcedony found in Dak Lake was a bit unusual outside a gem shop but it all added to the enjoyment of the street.