Since this was our first trip to Vietnam, we were interested in seeing the differences between major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. We found a good flight deal that allowed us to enter the country in HCMC and leave through Hanoi. The possibilities were many to fill the middle gap in an 11 full-day trip.
After many considerations, we decided to add Hoi An to our itinerary. It looked kind of peaceful, as small towns usually are, and quite beautiful judging from online images. The flight there from Ho Chi Minh City was kind of stressful and extremely quick, as a guy sitting in front of us almost died. Luckily, he survived—we saw him again in a café one of the following days.
It was hot—very hot. I’m used to Southeast Asia’s summer climate, but a 43ºC thermal sensation at night was a bit tough. Not all was lost, though, as our hotel had a great pool where we spent our afternoons until just before sunset.
The crowds were huge—much more than I expected. At night, on the main streets, it was tricky not to bump into anyone. That said, we had no trouble finding quiet corners away from the crowds and great places to eat. The city really comes alive at night with a lot of color and street food. But, as in many cities, one of my favorite places was the local market. I just love to wander around, look at the daily produce, and compare it to what I know from home.
We also took a short trip to the Marble Mountains and were shocked by the massive urban development along the coast—huge hotels and buildings right on the beach. I’m not sure if I’ll return to Hoi An someday, as there’s so much more to explore, and this picturesque city didn’t really click with me.
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