We have found our paradise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8ccDb6n5Wg&index=1&list=PL1A75F947E6DB7F12

After two weeks of moving from place to place in Vietnam and spending almost every night somewhere else, I felt restless. I was tired of traveling around...

At the beginning of my time in this country, I was really stressed - so much to see and so little time. 'You absolutely have to see this!', 'No, I wouldn't miss that!', ... Vietnam offers many attractions (unfortunately, most of them are overcrowded with tourists). Even when planning my route, I felt the rush from one sight to the next in my mind. But then I gradually realized that it doesn't really matter if I've seen everything or not. I had planned things that didn't interest me much, just because someone thought it was worth seeing. But that doesn't matter at all. As a solo traveler, I don't have to follow anyone's lead, and I don't benefit at all from being able to say afterwards that I've been to many places but couldn't enjoy them. What really makes traveling beautiful is the people. You can be in the most beautiful place in the world and still feel uncomfortable if the company doesn't fit. Or you are in a not so special place, but you are completely satisfied because you are surrounded by nice people. So I consciously let go of the pressure to 'see everything' and after my motorcycle tour in the north, I immediately took a flight from Hanoi to Hoi An and skipped a lot in between - good for me!

I booked a hostel (Ha My Seaside Hoi An Homestay) outside the city, just two minutes walk to the beach. At first for two nights. And I'll say it right away - I liked it there so much that I extended twice and stayed for a total of five nights. This hostel has been by far the best on my entire trip. Vy (the owner) is so friendly and dedicated, I felt at home from the moment I arrived. The atmosphere was so familiar and I quickly took the people I met there into my heart.

The beach was amazing - white sand, palm trees, high waves and no people. And we enjoyed that a lot. Our entire stay in Hoi An was like this: lying on the beach, going to town for food, occasionally shopping, drinking coffee, eating, finding a cozy bar, having a few beers, eating and sitting on the beach again in the evening. That repeated day after day - and that was exactly what we all needed.

Hoi An is the center of Vietnam in a way. Most backpackers travel from north to south or vice versa. So by the time you get to Hoi An, you've already made a few stops and at some point you've had enough of sightseeing and constant changes of location.

The city is perfect for staying. Although there are many travelers there and the place is quite touristy and sometimes even a bit cheesy, it is one of the coziest places in Vietnam. When strolling through the colorful narrow alleys of the old town, you don't feel any rush at all. Everything is within walking distance and there are so many nice cafes, restaurants, street stalls and shops that you want to stop every 10 meters. If it gets too much (or in our case too hot), you can escape to the beach just a few km away.

Our hostel and 'our' beach were about 8-9 km from the city. So we always had to take a taxi, a bike or a scooter to get to the city, but that didn't bother us much. Because our stretch of beach was off the beaten path and belonged only to us.

My friends happened to arrive on the same day as me and they all stayed longer than planned. So we all left on the same day. And it wasn't easy for us, because for us Ha My Seaside was like paradise on earth - no worries, great company and of course the beach and the sea. We all had a great time there and made very special friendships that I will remember for a long time.