Hoi An - Day 1

After quickly leaving the shabby accommodation, I regained my well-being in an artsy ambiance at a trendy café next door with Egg Coffee and a Yoghurt Bowl. A hotel next door was supposed to host me for the next two nights, and after dropping my luggage, I rented a bike and cruised through the picturesque old town. Countless flowers, lanterns, and bunting give the river-infested city a magnificent appearance, which, of course, also attracts masses of tourists.

In the Nu Eatery, I devoured excellent steamed buns with pork belly and decided to have a shirt tailor-made in one of the many tailor shops. Besides its highly Instagrammable appearance with the lanterns and so on, Hoi An is known for its tailoring craftsmanship. I was measured and chose a fabric made of silk/linen blend. During a visit to the local street food market, I enjoyed filled rice paper rolls grilled over charcoal.

Shrimp snacks and Pork Belly Bun

After I settled into my room, I escaped the tourist crowds in the city and set off on my bike to explore the surrounding villages. Unfortunately, I had to seek shelter in a local café from the rain after a short time. When I set off again, it was already getting dark. The darkness was occasionally interrupted by outdoor seating lit up with colorful lights, where locals gathered, but I didn't dare join their intimate atmosphere. I would also like to mention that despite the darkness and remote village streets – and generally during my time in Vietnam so far – I never felt unsafe at any point.

Suddenly, a downpour forced me to seek refuge in one of the village's outdoor restaurants. A group of young men my age immediately invited me to their table. Duc was the only one who spoke English and explained to me that it was too cold (~23°C) to drink beer. Instead, they drank rice liquor at intervals. They also served: pork with onions and mint, braised pork knuckle with black beans, Phó, stir-fried beef, etc. There was much laughter, we took pictures together, and after one or two hours, we changed locations, with Duc pushing me on my bike with his motorbike so I could keep up with the scooter gang. To my relief, there was beer now, along with stuffed clams and other delicacies. Around 10:30 PM, the group slowly dispersed – after all, the guys had to work the next day – and I rode my bike home.