Hoi An
You must have undoubtedly come across videos of a beautiful river filled with colorful boats completely lit with Chinese lamps. Yes! That wish-list destination is Hoi An. Made popular in recent times through social media, Hoi An is a melting pot of history at a distance of 27km from Da Nang. There is so much to do in Hoi An. Still, one day is sufficient to cover it all. The villages on way from Da Nang to Hoi An provide you a glimpse of the village life in Vietnam. The shops and houses were decorated in anticipation of the new year. It was a mesmerizing journey that took about 40 minutes from Da Nang.
The wooden Chinese houses, French colonial buildings, Japanese Bridge and pagoda everything reflects the history of this town. There are museums, beaches, dedicated villages that specialize in vegetables, pottery or silk, temples and markets. The town’s beauty will overwhelm you. Although due to sudden influx of tourism, the rustic feel is no more. Still, you can get a feel of an important historic place as soon as you step in the town. The small yet pretty cafe and restaurants in the river area will lure you into having a snack at least.
Driving through the streets of Hoi An is a pleasure in itself. You may also hire the rickshaws for a city tour. You will be taken through the beautiful lanes of the town passing every important monument. It is more comfortable than walking.
The town has many canals that give it a unique look. The Thu Bon river is the lifeline of this town. A leisure walk by this river and some pictures from the bridges are a must tourist activity here. Apart from this, the most awaited of all activities is the colorful boat ride on this river. There are many boats lined along the banks that offer to take the tourists on ride. Later, as the sun sets, you may release a lamp and watch it soar above among other lamps making the sky lit in various colors. All this is what attracts the tourists and makes this small town so beautiful with unique character. Unfortunately it was raining when we were there so we could not enjoy the boat ride. So, check the weather before going.
