Hoi An is another town situated on a river. Very different than our last stop, Hoi An centers around a market and the trading of goods. The town is built of centuries old merchant houses that were spared during the past couple of wars. The owners live in the upstairs and run shops and restaurants down below. They are quite amazing, really.
It seems Hoi An has been "discovered" by tourists, and may soon loose it's individual identity. We noticed new construction that had come up even since our guide book was published.
However, we have been able to enjoy the lovely charms Hoi An has to offer, just a few blocks outside of the main area of town. We decided to summarize it with people, places and things.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
People
The best part of Hoi An was the people. It is such a strong community. Everyone seemed to know each other, and seemed to help each other out. They are sort a fun, relaxed group of folks- the kind of people you hope to always have in your life.
They walk their lost grandparents home....
This lovely, toothless women was generous enough to sell us some overpriced fruit at the beach.
They give friends rides on their bikes...
They hang with their girlfriends...
They're not afraid to kick up their feet once in awhile...
The women work very hard in Vietnam. The men...
Again with the men...
This over-worked woman has fallen asleep in her own produce stall.
Generally, friendly people all around.
The little kids are in fact, the cutest.
They walk their lost grandparents home....
This lovely, toothless women was generous enough to sell us some overpriced fruit at the beach.
They give friends rides on their bikes...
They hang with their girlfriends...
They're not afraid to kick up their feet once in awhile...
The women work very hard in Vietnam. The men...
Again with the men...
This over-worked woman has fallen asleep in her own produce stall.
Generally, friendly people all around.
They even wear crazy outfits in public sometimes.
The little kids are in fact, the cutest.
Places
Hoi An is a small town that seems to have become recently over-run with tourists. It is still a charming place, 4km from a beautiful beach on the South China Sea, and has a very friendly vibe.
This basket that Stacie is standing next to Cau Dai beach is actually a "boat" that local fishermen use when setting their nets just off shore.
On the way to the beach we passed local women working in beautiful green rice paddies.
Just a few metres out of town there are rice paddies. Here the local rice farmers work on a field that they are preparing to plant.
Hoi An at night. The architecture is amazing and quite old. This town of merchant houses was spared in both the French and American wars. The narrow streets close down to cars and motorbikes at night, when the tourists, locals and children wander the friendly streets.
A typical intersection in Hoi An, with bikes, carts and "modern" machinery.
Mass transit in Hoi An. Town life traditionally centers around the river.
This basket that Stacie is standing next to Cau Dai beach is actually a "boat" that local fishermen use when setting their nets just off shore.On the way to the beach we passed local women working in beautiful green rice paddies.
Just a few metres out of town there are rice paddies. Here the local rice farmers work on a field that they are preparing to plant.
Hoi An at night. The architecture is amazing and quite old. This town of merchant houses was spared in both the French and American wars. The narrow streets close down to cars and motorbikes at night, when the tourists, locals and children wander the friendly streets.
A typical intersection in Hoi An, with bikes, carts and "modern" machinery.
Mass transit in Hoi An. Town life traditionally centers around the river.
Some shrimping structures we saw on the drive between Hue and Hoi An, with the Marble Mountains in the background.
Things
Hoi An is a city of things. It is a booming shopping town for tourists, and has a lively traditional market for the locals.
Including amazing street food...
Lessons on how to make Southern Vietnamese street food...
Every kind of nick-nack, pottery or laquer bowl that you'd ever want...
Local produce, fish, dry goods, dried fish, housewares, fish...
And everyone transports everything on motorbikes...
You need silk or cloth? Hoi An has an enormous cloth market and enough ties and silk sashes for the entire western world...
Including amazing street food...Lessons on how to make Southern Vietnamese street food...
Every kind of nick-nack, pottery or laquer bowl that you'd ever want...
Local produce, fish, dry goods, dried fish, housewares, fish...
And everyone transports everything on motorbikes...
You need silk or cloth? Hoi An has an enormous cloth market and enough ties and silk sashes for the entire western world...
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