With the taste of hot, sunny beach time still on our minds we decide to indulge in a little R and R at a lovely resort in Hoi An.  The hotel is beach side and looks amazing on the website. We opt for a short flight versus a long train ride and arrive at our destination about the same time as a huge wind storm.

Being the hardy souls we are, we make for the beach despite the wind and clouds.  It’s a little brisk out and having spent the last 2 months in 26 plus degrees we’re freezing and my hair is standing on end.  This area was hit quite hard in the same bad storm that devastated the Philippines in the fall and some of the beach area is still being repaired.  We admit defeat and head inside for Happy Hour admiring the lovely sea view and pool from the warmth of the lounge.

The next day was better but still not beach weather so we head into town.  We had read it was a unique place but nothing prepared us for the magic of Hoi An.  It’s hard to describe but it’s a mix of old world European with ancient Chinese all wrapped up with Vietnamese charm.  We cross an ancient 16th century Japanese covered bridge that has a Buddhist temple in the middle of it.

 

This bridge originally divided the town from the Japanese settlement. The town was once the biggest harbour in Southeast Asia back in the 1st century and thus adopted many influences.

Over the next few days, all of which are cloudy but thankfully not as windy we explore as much of the city as possible.  The streets are absent of the hoards of motorbikes that we have seen so far and replaced instead with bicycles.  There are narrow, quiet streets with small shops full of handcrafted wares.  No signs of the chain stores, no Macdonalds, no Starbucks, no seven elevens, it’s all so refreshing.  And everywhere lanterns swing from wires, windows and shops, their cheerful bright appearance calm and adds to the special feeling this place offers.

There is a huge market full of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and all kinds of other proteins.  It is a bustling place with motorbikes (there are still a few around) pulling up to do some road side shopping.  Between the locals and the tourists it makes for a slightly chaotic atmosphere.

We come across a sort of food court, for lack of a better word, here there are tables in the middle surrounded by cooking areas.  We walk around and gaze at the various dishes on display, each being prepared from scratch.  At cauldron filled with soup stock slowly cooks over a wood fire, a man skillfully makes noodles for the soup.  Some of the dishes aren’t what I even consider sampling but I did fall for a spicy beef soup that brought me back for more.  Had we gone back a third time, Nick was planning to try the spicy frog in lemongrass (I’m not just talking legs here but at least the head was cut off), we sadly.. never got back there.

The charm of this city goes on and on, the streets, the architecture, the people to name but a few things, but it’s the lanterns hung everywhere that make it seem so magical.

Our last night just happened to be a full moon, and unknown to us marks a special event here. Come evening all the electric lights are turned off and the town is lit only with lanterns.  It is a festive time with some shops closing for the event, and people are everywhere.  As we make our way through the streets there is music, games  and everyone is having a good time.  Street vendors sell treats and near the bridges (there are a few in town crossing the river) there are floating candles for sale.  Everywhere the lanterns are shining brightly, illuminating the only light we see.

A step back in time to be sure.

We came for the sun and the beach but left with so much more.