On a Discovery and Shopping Tour in Hoi An

In Hue, I could have easily spent another day or two without getting bored, but the next morning it was time to say goodbye and head towards Hoi An. Early, just before 9:00 AM, I received a message that the bus was leaving not at 11:00 AM, but rather at 10:00 AM. This somewhat ruined my relaxed packing and breakfast plans; i.e., breakfast ended up being just an instant coffee ... So far, I had only booked the trip to Da Nang; I wanted to spontaneously arrange the remainder of the journey of about 1 to 1.5 hours from there, which made me less upset about the earlier departure ... The 2.5-hour bus ride in the comfortable and air-conditioned VIP bus went by quickly, and during a break, I was able to negotiate my onward journey from Da Nang to Hoi An with the local bus driver ... with a phone call, he organized something, and several tens of thousands of Dong conveniently passed from his bus company into his own pocket, and I got into the next van directly in Da Nang ...

Thus, by early afternoon, I was already in Hoi An and was able to take my first stroll through the old town after checking in. Hoi An is the only city in Vietnam that remained unscathed by destruction during the Vietnam War. The entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strolling through the streets and narrow alleys and occasionally stopping in the local establishments by the roadside or along a promenade by the canal waterways, one absorbs the charm from various epochs that have found their way into the picturesque little town ... along with the unique atmosphere created by the thousands of colorful folding lanterns ... The street vendors, who constantly—yet friendly and not too pushy—ask if you would like to buy some tourist souvenirs or need transport services, eventually become less annoying...

So I also spent two and a half days leisurely visiting the attractions in the old town, including museums, temples, picturesque buildings, and public facilities, wandering through the narrow alleys and shops, indulging in culinary delights, watching folkloric dance and singing performances, and enjoying the lively bar scene with various live music and the hustle and bustle of the vibrant night markets. I also visited the nearby white sandy beach with a mandatory dip in the cool waters of the South China Sea, which I combined with a longer walk through the surrounding fields.

Hoi An is also world-renowned for its abundance of excellent tailors, and after some browsing and reading various reviews, I finally chose one. There, I ordered two suits and two shirts to be custom-made. After discussing styles, selecting fabrics and colors, and taking extensive measurements, I will go for my first fitting after tomorrow's early trip to My Son. I am curious; although I still don't know how I will fit the extra luggage into my further travels and transport it home...