Heading to Hoi An
We have a morning flight to Danang before hitch a ride to Hoi An. So after a great breakfast buffet at our hotel we head to the airport. Unfortunately our string of fancy flights are behind us, but the Sister and I have no problems with Air Asia to Vietnam. Our hour and a half flight is smooth from start to finish and without any issues.
Hoi An
The first major stop on our sibling trip is Hoi An. Hoi An is a Unesco World Heritage site as an ancient South East Asian trading port. It retains a lot of its original architecture and layout. After landing in Danang we drive to our hotel in Hoi An, check in and get settled a little. Afterwards we set out to simply walk around and explore. Even with the rain clouds, Hoi An makes a lovely first impression. The waterway and beautifully decorated streets and buildings give it a lot of charm. I’m really looking forward to when its full with the hustle and bustle!
Vy’s Market
After a bit of exploration, our thoughts turn to lunch. With a few places on our list we decide on Vy’s Market Restaurant. The concept of the restaurant is kind of like multiple street food stands put into one food court area. You order with one of the staff and they go to the different stands to get the food for you. The eating area is in the centre and is surrounded by the various food stands. So if you are interested in a variety of different Vietnamese dishes but don’t want to wander to different areas to get them all, this might be an option.
As this is our first Vietnamese meal we order a variety of different fares. With each dish we start getting the different flavours that Vietnamese cuisine has to offer. Sufficed to say, I think we’re going to be very happy with the cuisine during our time here in Hoi An and also Vietnam. Everything is delicious and we quickly devour it all.
Chua Cau (Japanese Bridge)
After lunch we continue our exploration of Hoi An. After a bit of walking we arrive at the Chua Cau, or the Japanese Bridge. It’s a bridge built by Japanese merchants in the 16th century and there is a temple at the centre. But these days, it looks to primarily be a popular Instagram spot for most tourists! On a calm water day like today though, the reflections do make for a very picturesque scene. Add the Hoi An architecture to the background and I can understand the appeal!
More Hoi An
As the afternoon progresses we notice more and more people around. What used to be calm and peaceful is replaced by the hustle and bustle of a popular tourist destination. While I’m not one for crowds as a tourist. I do like seeing the contrast of our pre-lunch walk when there is almost no one around versus seeing the town fully alive. It’s a very different vibe and I’m all for it. Food stalls are everywhere, merchants are trying to make sales and tour groups are snaking their way through crowds.
Banh Mi Phuong
As we wander through the streets, we get near the vicinity of Banh Mi Phuong. This is a Banh Mi shop made famous by Anthony Bourdain. And even though we aren’t particularly hungry, we line up to pick up some sandwiches to “try”. I’d like to say that this is the best Banh Mi I had on this trip, but I think its pretty “par for the course”. It’s not bad by any means but I think there is an element of “hype” to this now. Nonetheless, I’m still glad to check it off the list and say I’ve done it!
River Lanterns
As it nears the end of the afternoon we start heading back towards the river. Every night Hoi An lights up lanterns on land and boats. They allow people to release lanterns on the river and its something both the Sister and I want to experience. As we start getting closer to the river we start seeing signs of the lanterns and of boat operators decorating their boats. We even start to see the odd floating lantern in the water as the evening festivities begin to kick off.
Hoi An Evening Lanterns
As we get closer the centre of town, we see that the boats are out in full force. And as the sun starts to set and the sky gets darker, the beauty of the lanterns really starts to shine through. The different coloured lanterns start to light up the river and the whole thing really comes alive. It is really pretty especially at night and a spectacle for the eyes. However, I do want to note that while its a beautiful sight. I think it’s more of a tourist event now than a cultural one. Most of the boats are for hire and the floating lanterns are for sale along the side of the river. Nonetheless, It’s something to be experienced and for that, well worth seeing.
Lantern Catasrophe!
As we continue along the river, something did pique our interest. As the lanterns flow downstream, there are pockets along the riverbank where several seem to collect. And since these are paper lanterns with an open flame and an external breeze, something is bound to happen. As lanterns would start catching on fire it would spread to the others collecting in the same area until you end up with a few dozen floating lantern shells. The sister and I were fascinated by watching lanterns float by or “fall into this trap”. It’s almost like a show within the show!
Morning Glory
After getting our fill of the Lantern goodness, we head back to our hotel to rest before heading back out. For dinner we decide on a restaurant called Morning Glory and luck out with a great view overlooking the river and the night market below. We continue our sampling of some local dishes and are not disappointed. At this point, we both get to enjoy the environment we’re in, the food we have and simply the fact that our Sibling trip in Hoi An is starting out so well.
Night Market
After dinner, we decide to stroll the night market and take it all in a little. It’s been a pretty full day so we’re starting to feel it catch up to us. So after some more walking we end up retiring back to our hotel. But Hoi An has made an impressive first impression and both the Sister and I are loving it.
Tomorrow we’re heading to a Vietnamese theme park. We don’t exactly know what to expect but we hear that it’s going to be “interesting”, so stay tuned!