Leaving Hoi An, Vietnam feels worse than a breakup 😭
When it comes to ancient towns, we often think of commercialization and empty wallets 🙈. However, Hoi An, a Vietnamese town with 1500 years of history, retains the simplicity of the Maritime Silk Road 🍀 and is full of life. Not only is it not a tourist trap, but it also brings a long-lost sense of relaxation ✌. 👣 Hoi An 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Take a taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An in the afternoon (about 1 hour, 100r) - Boat ride and lantern release in the ancient town - Accommodation Day 2: Take a coconut boat at noon - Buy Ao Dai - Explore the ancient town in the afternoon - Night bus to Nha Trang 📌 Travel Tips: 👗 Buying Ao Dai: Don't buy it inside the ancient town. Go to Central Market first and tell them you want "Ao Dai". There are many styles to choose from. A set of men's/women's clothing + painted large conical hat can be negotiated around 350k. A bunch of flowers at the entrance is 20k. ⏰ Hoi An Ancient Town: Visit from 15:00 to 19:00 to avoid the sun and see both day and night scenery. ☀ Daytime: Millennial ancient streets with blossoming flowers. 🚲 Cycling and taking photos in the old streets: The bright yellow 💛 on the walls of old houses is very photogenic. Bougainvillea 🌸 cascading from the roofs exudes a vibrant vitality. There are not many people during the day, making it perfect to ride a vintage bicycle through the streets, with the warm sun casting a carefree, breezy feeling 😎. 🏠 Visit historical sites: Don't be deceived by its size; Hoi An's historical and cultural museum, Guan Yu Temple, Hoai An Assembly Hall, and other historical sites are all gathered here. Experience the cultural blend and past stories of Hoi An up close. ☕ Enjoy coffee on the rooftop while waiting for sunset: Many coffee shops retain their centuries-old charm. I personally prefer Faifo Coffee, which is in a tall Western-style building with a terrace overlooking the bustling streets. Order and head upstairs; their matcha coffee is sweet to my taste 💚. Arrive by 17:20 to secure a spot and patiently wait for the sunset. ✨ Evening: The moment the lights come on, it's like a river of stars. 🚣 Taking a boat ride and releasing river lanterns: As night falls, the boats on the river light up. From the bridge, you can capture the panoramic view. There are manual and electric boats; the electric boats cost 250k for a loop and have more lanterns for better photos. Each of us was given a river lantern, and setting off towards the moonlight was so romantic. 🏮 Taking photos on lantern streets: Vietnamese lanterns come in various shapes, especially the inverted teardrop and diamond shapes, which look beautiful hanging from doorways. We negotiated a photo session for three people for 20k, near the Lantern13 gift shop, but the lady there wasn't very friendly. 🍜 Food: Not recommended to dine inside the ancient town. Cơm Gà Bà Dung: The chicken oil rice is super delicious, and I had three bowls of the complimentary chicken soup, with the small eggs as an additional cost. TOAN's Restaurant Coffee Garden: The spring rolls and Mi Quang taste great, and dining in the courtyard is very pleasant. 🏠 Accommodation: Hanh Nhung Villa, a triple room with a large area for less than 200r a night, a bit damp. Good service, and they can book bus tickets to Nha Trang. 🗺 My 14-day Vietnam itinerary: Hanoi - Da Nang - Hoi An - Ba Na Hills - Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City #UnforgettableSights #MostBeautifulAncientTownStrategy #HowToPlayInVisaOnArrivalCountries #Vietnam #VietnamTravel #VietnamJourney #HoiAn #HoiAnAncientTown #HoiAnOldTown #OffTheBeatenPath #XiaohongshuTravelCalendar