Hoi An

this lady is really happy because she thought I was going to pay
$1 for this picture

 Hoi An in one word: darling. It is a quaint, beautiful, yellow, French colonial town known for lanterns and tailoring. It is a shopaholics mecca. Never in my life did I think I needed a silk robe, lantern, or tailor-made everything. I definitely walked away with more than I intended, but it was just so irresistible and most of the shopkeeps are extremely nice once you get past their pushiness.

Larry Bird selling fruit!

We arrived to Hoi An on a night bus and explored the town the morning we arrived before our hotel was ready. We immediately headed to the tailors, as I knew I wanted a purse made and Kate wanted shoes. Not really knowing how to tell if a tailor is good since all of the sample shoes and bags are from cheap designers and just used as examples, we finally settled on one that we had seen on Trip Advisor. I wanted a Prada style bag, which they assured me they could make “no problem.”

Walking around the town all I wanted to do was buy tailor-made pants, blazers, and shoes. Thankfully, I was good my first three days in Hoi An so by my last day and a half there was not enough time for the tailors to make things for me….though I did end up ordering a coat at 11 PM one night and picking it up at 2 PM the next day. Trying it on in the 100 degree weather made me realize how utterly ridiculous of a purchase it was, but in October when I return home I will be oh so cozy in my $35 tailor-made jacket.

My gorgeous handmade bag!

After doing some damage the first day, Kate and I decided to rent motorbikes and make the 45 km to a UNESCO World Heritage Sight called My Son, which are ruins that date back to the pre-Angkor period. We met a woman the night before named Shannon, who was in Vietnam doing research on endangered soft shell turtles the night before who accompanied us as well. The ride was a little scary as we continuously got lost (typical) and found ourselves on a highway. Once off the highway, we were in real Vietnamese countryside filled with rice fields, cows, water buffalo, and gorgeous mountains in the distance. Though the ruins themselves were not very impressive because Americans bombed what the French had reconstructed during the war, the ride out there was worth it.

On the way back the clouds started to roll in and we were afraid we would get caught in rain, but soon the clouds opened up and cast the most magnificent light on the distant mountains. The sky was a pale pink while the mountains were a misty blue. It is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen (I know I just said Nha Trang was one of the most beautiful places, but I always say “one of” because that means you can have more than one). I was overcome with the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside and was so thankful that I am able to experience such an amazing country on such a diverse and trip that leaves me amazed every single day.

One of the things I was most excited about for Hoi An was the lantern festival that takes place each day on the full moon. It was pure coincidence that our trip overlapped with the full moon in Hoi An, when supposedly the whole town goes dark except for the traditional Hoi An lanterns. It really wasn’t that cool. Stores stay open, so obviously there are lights on. But the lanterns really are beautiful and it was cool to experience it. We saw some adorable kids doing karate, and then quickly went to a stand on the river to avoid the crowds and enjoy some 20 cent “fresh beer.”

the famous Hoi An lanterns

NOW do you understand why I did so much shopping?