The optimists - waiting for a wave at Hoi An's An Bang beach

The Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now, created the impression that the country's long and beautiful coastline is also home to great surf beaches. For the most part though, hopeful surfers leave disappointed - like these two optimists recently spotted on Hoi An's An Bang beach. Back in 1993, when Vietnam was first opening up to the world, China Beach - now known as Non Nuoc beach, near Marble Mountains - hosted the world's surfing elite for an ASP event. A typhoon threw up some respectable waves but there was no follow-up. The ASP came and went. Some expats still insist that there are great waves to be found. I've rarely spotted any - though I'm only a bodysurfer. The guys in this image didn't persist too long either. Probably better to enjoy a refreshing dip and leave the board at home.