The Tranquility of Hoi An
While in Da Nang we took a short break from our stressful daily commute to visit the charming town of Hoi An.
Located about 45 minutes drive south of Da Nang we took a Grab there for a 3 night stay (we had planned for 2 but extended by a day). The vibe and location of Hoi An sorta reminded us of Galveston. There is an abundance of marshy land (rice fields) and canal houses overlooking the water. There are beaches and an old town similar to the Galveston Strand. Charming and historic vibes within close proximity to a major city!
While Hoi An is near the coast, because we were so close to the beach in Da Nang we didn’t feel it necessary to visit the beach but it is a common thing to do there. We were perfectly content with wandering the charming old town or lounging at our hotel overlooking the beautiful scenery.
We stayed in the very chill and relaxing Little Hoi An hotel. A tastefully decorated and spacious room with a great balcony overlooking the marsh and canals, a fantastic luxurious bathtub, two rooftop pools with more stunning views, a fantastic restaurant, and a shuttle to and from town and the beach were just a few things we loved about this place. The location, while away from the old town, made for a tranquil and peaceful stay as it allowed us to get away from the hustle and bustle of the old town and really enjoy the scenery. They were also running a special which included one night’s dinner, free breakfast every morning, and even a transfer back to Da Nang. A huge steal for the cost.
The Hoi An old town is beautiful and charming, day and night. It’s characterized by yellow buildings, beautiful lanterns and abundant plant life. A much scaled down version of Hanoi. During the day we strolled through the streets admiring the shops and architecture. At night Hoi An is famous for its lantern boats that take to the canal. What we are sure was once a charming experience has of course gotten out of hand with overtourism and now the boats are pure chaos. We opted to skip this but were content with watching the madness from the shore.
Speaking of watching the madness, one evening we stepped into a burger joint with a patio overlooking the river to watch the boat chaos and they were setting up for live music. A guy with a guitar started playing and lo and behold what does he play? Some of our favorite Devil Makes Three songs! Who would have thought we would catch music from one of our favorite (and not super popular) bands all the way in Hoi An!
One thing Hoi An is well known for is custom tailors. Virtually everywhere you look you will find tailors selling artisan made and/or custom clothing. Viv joined in the experience by having a dress custom made.
The whole experience was amazing. We walked in and were presented with books after books of styles and designs to look through. You pulled pictures of styles you liked and shared with the seamstress what different parts you liked and they created a custom drawing of all the different features you would like. Then you picked the fabric and they took your measurements. 24 hours later you came back for a fitting and if no alteration was needed you took your piece home. All for under $100.
It’s also no secret we love our tasteful cocktail bars and speakeasies. We found a cool mezcal bar/speakeasy above a restaurant one night and stopped in for a drink. The whole vibe and experience was like something out of a movie and was a fun night out in this charming town!