Discover Hoi An

Hoi An – a completely different side of Vietnam

After experiencing the hectic pace of Hanoi, it was quite a special feeling to arrive in Hoi An. The first thing I noticed was how much calmer everything felt. Instead of the constant noise from traffic and scooters, I was met by small streets, old buildings and a much more relaxed atmosphere. It almost felt like I had arrived in a completely different part of Vietnam, even though I was still in the same country.

I liked Hoi An almost immediately. It was the kind of place where I did not feel the need to plan every hour. I could leave my accommodation in the morning, start walking around and then simply see where the day took me. The old houses, small shops and restaurants were all close to each other and there was always something new to discover. It was also much easier to walk around here than in Hanoi, which allowed me to take in the city at a much more relaxed pace.

The old town was without a doubt one of my favourite parts. The old yellow buildings and narrow streets gave Hoi An a very special atmosphere. During the day, the area was relatively quiet, while towards the evening it changed completely. As darkness began to fall, all the lights and lanterns were turned on and the entire area took on an almost magical atmosphere. It was one of those places where I could really understand why so many travellers become attached to Hoi An.

Something I really appreciated was simply walking around without any particular plan. I could enter a small shop, stop at a café or sit down at a restaurant and then continue walking. Hoi An felt very walkable and that made a big difference after being in more intense cities. Sometimes I walked along the same street several times during the same day but still noticed new details every time.

Food was also a big part of the experience. I tried several local dishes and ate both at smaller restaurants and simpler food places. What I liked was that Hoi An had many places where you could eat good food without it becoming particularly expensive. I mainly tried to find smaller local restaurants rather than only choosing the most obvious tourist places. Those meals often ended up being the ones I enjoyed the most.

Hoi An is also a city where cafés really fit into the journey. After several hours of walking, it was nice to find a small café, order a cold drink or coffee and simply sit down. I liked that the pace allowed for these kinds of breaks. You did not have to feel like you were wasting time just because you sat down for an hour. On the contrary, the cafés became part of the experience itself.

The heat was something you definitely had to take into account, though. During the day it could become really hot and humid, especially when walking longer distances. I therefore tried to be outside early and then take things easier around midday. Towards the afternoon and evening, it became much more pleasant and I could go out again and continue exploring the city. A cold drink or a break at a café was almost mandatory after a few hours outside.

Another thing I really wanted to do in Hoi An was experience the city in the evening. When the lanterns were lit, the entire area changed. The river, the old buildings and all the small sources of light created a very different atmosphere compared with the daytime. There were many more people outside and the restaurants quickly filled up. I enjoyed simply walking along the river and watching everything that was happening.

The traffic was also considerably calmer than in Hanoi, which made it much easier to walk around. There were still scooters and cars, but I never experienced the same stress as in the larger cities. In the old part of Hoi An, I could mainly move around on foot and really enjoy the surroundings. This allowed me to focus much more on the city itself instead of constantly thinking about how to get from one place to another.

I also liked that Hoi An felt like a place where you could slow down a little. After a lot of travelling, it can sometimes become quite intense to constantly pack your bag, take transportation to the next place and try to see as much as possible. Here it almost felt natural to slow down. I could have a long lunch, walk around the city, sit at a café and then go out again in the evening.

One of the things that made the biggest impression on me was the contrast between Hoi An during the day and Hoi An at night. During the day, the city was calm and almost a little sleepy on some streets. When evening came, however, there was much more life and movement. The lanterns were lit, people gathered along the river and the restaurants filled up. This meant that the same places could feel completely different depending on what time of day you were there.

After a few days in Hoi An, I felt that I had gotten exactly the kind of break I needed during the journey. I had managed to walk around the old town, eat good food, try different cafés and experience the evenings along the river. Above all, I had the opportunity to slow down and simply enjoy being on the road.

Hoi An therefore became one of the places during the journey that I remember most for its atmosphere. It was not just one specific attraction that made the place special, but the whole experience. The old buildings, lanterns, food, cafés and peaceful walks made me really enjoy being here. After a few days it was time to pack my bag again and continue, but Hoi An was definitely a place where I would have liked to stay a little longer.