Of all the places we have visited in Vietnam, Hoi An has felt the most like home. The town has everything you want: picturesque landscape for biking, nice beaches, historic walk streets lit only by silk lanterns, and the best banh mi. Quite a few expats have settled here, and we can see why.
We spent our time on long bike rides through beautiful gardens, relaxed at the beach, practiced yoga at a local studio, and sampled tons of amazing food. While we haven’t had a bad meal in Vietnam, every meal in Hoi An was delicious. Local fare includes white rose, cau lau (special noodles that can only be made with water from one specific well), quang noodles, and of course famous banh mi.
The World Heritage ancient town along the river has beautiful and unique architecture with strong Japanese and Chinese influence. Walking around during the day is fun, but the area really comes alive at night. The famous lanterns make it feel as you’ve been transported back in time as you walk, and the river is filled with lantern-lit boats and lined with art. We were lucky to be visiting during a lantern festival which only occurs on the night of a full moon. We celebrated by sharing a boat ride with an American couple we met in Hanoi among hundreds of beautiful candle-filled lanterns drifting down the river. It’s unclear where the lanterns end up, but it is really beautiful…
A highlight of our trip was a visit to the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum. French photographer Rehahn has taken stunning photos of the local people, and visited most of the 54 local ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. The museum features his photos as well as a collection of the traditional ethnic clothing.
Hoi An won our hearts (and stomachs) and we can’t wait to return someday!
