Walking along the banks of the Thu Bon River, watching the
boats sail by, I got a sense of what the delightful town of Hoi An must have
been like so many centuries ago.
Temples and ancient merchants’ houses with vivid yellow
walls help make this town special. It
was once a major port and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. A
fusion of different cultures including Chinese, Japanese and European laced
with indigenous influences, Hoi An has an alluring fascination. Despite it
being full of tourists there are no cars in the town centre nor are there any
motorbikes, which has to be a blessing.
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| Thu Bon River at night |
After passing by the ornate Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, I
headed to the beautiful, quaint Japanese Covered Bridge. Dating back to the
1590s it is the most
renowned symbol of Hoi An. Renovated in
1986, the bridge’s original arch shape which had been flattened out by the
French out so cars could cross, was restored.
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| Japanese Bridge |
Nearby plenty of traditional family homes hug shoulders with
timber-framed shops. Hoi An is renowned for its tailoring. You should get
recommendations for tailors to visit from your guide or hotel as the quality of
work can vary tremendously. The fabric is “made in China”. Say no more.
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| The fruit market |
From pearls to T-shirts,
the shopping is good here. However, it has also built up a reputation as a
place for foodies with plenty of cookery classes on the menu. The one I took
started with a trip to the local market to get up close and personal with the
vendors and learn about the ingredients which go into their traditional
everyday dishes.
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| Pretty street |
After our visit we took a boat trip to the cookery school
where we were shown how to cook Vietnamese-style. If you wanted to try your
hand, you could. After a delicious lunch, served up by the chef, not by us, we
headed back to the old town.
Outside Hoi An, for those that want some relaxation there
are beaches to discover. Cua Dai Beach is where you will find the luxury
hotels.
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| Wall dating back to the 4th century |
I chose a trip past
rice paddy fields and through some beautiful countryside to a remote
jungle valley to get a glimpse of what life was like in My Son. This old
bastion of the Champa Kingdom, overlooked by the Cat’s Tooth Mountain, dates
back to the 4th century.
Before exploring this once the religious and political
capital, which still has over 20 well-preserved monuments to see, we were
treated to a Cham dance show.
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| My Son Sanctuary Bridge without rails |
The rippling streams and the lush hills that surround My Son
Sanctuary makes a trip to this place so evocative.
Back in Hoi An, I watched the lanterns, a symbol of luck,
happiness and wealth, light up the night sky along the river. It was magical.
My trip here was short and sweet but the memories will linger forever.
By Daralyn Danns
Getting there
I flew from Hanoi with Vietnam Airways vietnamairlines.com to Hue
and went by road to Hoi An
Stay at Almanity Hoi An Resort and Spa almanityhoian
