When we planned our trip to Vietnam I wasn’t sure which cities to visit. Hanoi and Saigon are the big-name cities, but for a beautiful experience of the real Vietnam, the number one place to go is Hoi An. Its Ancient Town section is yet another stop at a UNESCO World Heritage Site; there are 8 in Vietnam.
Most of the silk lanterns made in Vietnam are made right here. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are also hand-painted.
The tailors of Hoi An are legendary, and the streets are full of options. Our esteemed tour group, Intrepid Travel, recommended Blue Eye Tailors for mid-range prices, or A Dong Silk Tailors, the shop which fitted up the guys on the episode of Top Gear- Vietnam. If you can envision an item, pull up an image from the Internet or find one in their books, they will measure you up and construct the item in one day. Silk, cotton blend or leather items are popular.
Hoi An’s Ancient Town is a well-preserved example of early port cities along the seacoast.
Here and in other places in southeast Asia you can take cooking classes. We were fortunate to be tutored by Chef Hai, who was a strict but educational taskmaster.
On the second day we elected to go exploring on our own. The hotel staff pointed out a Buddhist pagoda very close by, and as it turned out we were the only tourists there among a very small staff of monks. The religious sites here in Asia are often very beautiful, and here we strolled in peaceful silence, enjoying the ambience of this special place.
Two nights here was not enough, and we didn’t even get to see the beaches. I would love to return here for more exploration.
Wonderful photos. I’d be tempted to get several silk lanterns, although where would I put them? Like you, I’d be traveling light. Am considering an overseas trip in lieu of the AG this year. Short list is Vietnam and Argentina. Argentina has some slight advantage in that I have hobble-through Spanish. Segun mi reloj, son las dos.