Amazing day exploring the countryside around Hoi An.
We saw many remarkable things including:
Mother of pearl clam shell art
Traditional Vietnamese round boat construction (The boats are waterproofed with Cow manure and tree resin).
Then we tried our paddling skills in a shrimp farm.
And the highlight of the day for me was visiting the vertically integrated rice wine distillery.
- Soak and ferment the rice
- Distill alcohol by boiling
- Feed fermented rice mash to pigs
- Collect pig manure underground and then collect and burn methane produced by decomposing manure
- Burn methane to fuel distillation process
- Grow/sell/eat pigs
- Drink rice wine with extreme caution! It is a potent 60% alcohol.
At the end of the morning ride we landed in a small island village and enjoyed a great meal. 
Then a boat ride home along the river. Then a nap. Then a fresh fruit + Pringles dinner in the room. 
Thanks for another awesome day, Hoi An!
3 Ginger Snaps 
What a day !! An incredible array and combo of sites and learning ! The mother of pearl so stunning .. where does it come from oysters ?? I don’t know ?? But fruit and Pringles for dinner .. awesome !! Everyone having the best time .. no problem with the GBC stroke 😍😍 Keep having fun ❤️❤️
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Good Morning Vietnam! and helloooo Gingers 🙂 It is so interesting and exciting to follow your adventures off the beaten track. Travis is in awe. I (Christina) spent a year in Vietnam (1996-1997) as a teacher at the Fisheries University in Nha Trang – which you would have by-passed on your way to Hoi An. Peter came to join me on a break and we spent a few days in Hoi An- I think there may have been 3 other people on that beach! I imagine much has changed, but I have amazing memories of the people, the food and the daily lifestyle. I was also lucky to make it to Cambodia when my parents came to visit. There was only one brand new (unfinished) western style hotel in Sime Riep and the only way we were allowed to get there was by plane from Phnom Penh. There were very few foreigners and definitely no tour buses. Seeing your pictures and reading your tales brings back so many memories and the feeling of how lucky I was and how fortunate you are to have this opportunity to explore our beautiful world! We enjoy keeping up with your adventures, which leads to many discussions and a whole lot of googling to see and learn more of where you are! Big hugs to all from Arlington Ave 🙂 – Christina, Peter + Travis
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Hi super 5! Glad to see you are all soaking up these unique and amazing experiences. I am not surprised by this, just impressed that you are always stopping to smell the pig manure, or sip the distilled rice wine, or paddle in a shrimp boat, every chance you get. Keep learning and loving life!
A few questions. Ruby, is that an odd, throwback, black Nike bike helmet you are wearing in one of the pics?
Charlotte, is the shrimp farm in an artificial body of water, or a natural saltwater lake/river?
Drew, awesome notes on the rice-wine booze. When are you and Hil starting up the new family business? Lots of pig farmers here in Ontario! Seriously though, did some guy translate the instructions? Or was there a written copy of the steps in English!
Don’t stop with the photos and details gingers!
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Hi Girls!
I was at a canoeing conference yesterday and they talked about different types of traditional boats. One of the oldest kinds, used all over the world, is a round boat made out of reeds and coated with some kind of goo just like the boats you were in at the shrimp farm. People have been making thse boats for 1000s of years
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