Vietnam Day 5 — Hoi An: Exploring Ancient City’s Lantern-Lit Roads
It’s the fifth day in Vietnam, and it’s time to bid farewell to Hanoi. Leaving Hanoi stirred up mixed feelings. Luv was hopeful about returning someday to explore more of it. Our flight was bound for Da Nang. From there, we were scheduled to journey to Hoi An, where we planned to spend a night enjoying the ancient city, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Flight and Airbnb
Our flight journey to Da Nang was smooth. Upon arrival at Hanoi International Airport, we were not asked for our tickets or boarding passes at the gate. This means that in Vietnam, anyone can enter airports and proceed directly to the check-in line or enjoy the airport amenities. We purchased freshly squeezed orange juice and had already bought breakfast the previous night from a mart, which consisted of filled breads, chocolates, cookies, etc. We arranged a cab to Hanoi Airport through our Hoi An Airbnb host, who offered a good price (less than the Grab rate).
At the Danang airport, for the first time in my life, someone, our cab driver (again arranged by the Hoi An Airbnb host) was waiting for us with my name written on a placard, which amused me. He had a large car and was courteous. The cab journey to Hoi An was smooth. I observed small houses, shops, and crop fields on both sides of the roads. It was quite hot and humid outside.
Finally, we reached Hoi An, and our Airbnb host welcomed us warmly. She was a kind lady who also ran a clothing shop right in her living room. Our room was on the first floor. After quickly freshening up, we ventured out to explore the ancient city. It was very hot and humid outside.
We quickly had our lunch in a beautiful restaurant called Morning Glory, located within the streets of the ancient city and had very tasty chicken fried rice, a dumpling and a jelly drink with ginger syrup.
Hoi An : the ancient city
Hoi An is a well-preserved ancient town, crisscrossed with canals. Between the 7th and 10th centuries, the people of Champa used to govern the city, which served as a significant trading port. Its buildings and street plan reflect a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. The city’s rich history as a former port is evident in its architecture, which encompasses a mix of eras and styles, from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. We purchased tickets to explore the old city’s remaining historic tourist attractions, such as local houses where traditions are still maintained, the Japanese Covered Bridge, old pagodas, museums, and more. There are more than 30 spots to explore and one tickets allows you to explore 5 of them only at a time.
I personally felt that the place was a bit gimmicky. The authentic charm of the ancient city seemed to be somewhat diluted by commercial intentions. It was brimming with endless shops peddling expensive goods alongside local materials, restaurants, cafes, and roadside vendors offering various items. However, there were rickshaws available for quick rides for travelers. Every corner of the touristy streets was adorned with beautifully painted walls of shops and decorations such as lanterns, flowers, and colorful ornaments. The day we visited, there were a lot of travelers, and with not-so-wide streets, the area was so crowded that bumping into others was inevitable.
We embarked on our tour of the ancient city attractions, visiting a local house, one museum, one temples, one pagodas and one community hall. Each site was meticulously preserved and presented picturesque scenes.
Later, we ventured near the canals to explore the waterways and the local food stalls lining their banks. As evening descended, the colors of the sky complemented the illuminated lanterns adorning the streets. Boats glided along the water, adorned with numerous lanterns on their decks. People enjoyed boat rides, quickly filling the canal with bustling activity.
We then visited a café operated by individuals who were mute and deaf, providing us with a unique experience. They equipped us with note cards to communicate with the waitstaff, containing messages such as ‘hot water’ or ‘questions’.
We took many photos as we slowly walked down the road, noticing the happenings around us. Finally, we decided it was time to eat. Luv wanted to try all kinds of meats, so he asked one of the vendors for the prices of octopus, frog, quail, and other options. However, we didn’t end up purchasing anything, which agitated the vendor, and she called us crazy. It seems that Vietnam’s local vendors in Hoi An can be very aggressive, pushing hard to sell their products, and in this case, they were also quite impolite. This left us feeling a bit sad and angry. Nevertheless, we ordered a pork banh mi from another vendor before heading to the lantern market. The market was adorned with countless lanterns, and we couldn’t resist buying four before finally heading back to our Airbnb.
Before going to bed, we decided to visit Marble Mountain on our way to Danang the next day, as it was on the way back to the city, and sought the help of our Airbnb host once again, to get a cheaper cab accordingly. The bus service was not available during those days.
Read about Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11