During my two-year stay in Vietnam, I have been to Hoi An four times.
At first, I attributed my love for this place to the delightful seaside atmosphere. Whether I was taking a plunge in the refreshing sea, eating a local lunch at one of the many restaurants on the beach, or sunbathing with a book, I never found myself bored.
Moreover, I thought it was great to see how the locals enjoyed the beach just as much as I did. If you have been to Hoi An, you might understand that I refer to it as a town.
In most aspects, it is actually anything but a town. There are hundreds of tourists roaming around, more than plenty of restaurants to choose from, and countless shops and tailors. The streets are brightened by the countless lantern shops, one after another selling the identical product. Everytime strolling around Hoi An in the morning, I feel the atmosphere of a town. If you visit Hoi An, you will have the same experience.
At this time of day, most tourists are laying on the beach, and thus Hoi An is relatively quiet. Most shops and restaurants are closed and it is only the beautiful temples that attract people. Walking through the streets, everything is cosy.
Almost all of the buildings are made out of wood and are rather old. The cobbled roads are rather old and thus not always evenly distributed and while it requires extra attention to not trip, it is really charming. It is at these moments that I feel myself traveling back in time, to when Hoi An was just a village for her people, not so much for the tourists.
Even when I walk around at night like many tourists in the streets of Hoi An, I have the same feeling as in the morning: And like most small towns, Hoi An keeps growing on you. It is nearly impossible to visit just this once.
Eline Yara Jeanne Do you have a story to tell? Are you interested in writing about Vietnam? If so, please send your articles to vov@vovnews.vn
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